10 Foolish Tips
New Year's Resolutions
December 31, 1997

1. Tackle one resolution at a time. You didn't become a mess overnight, don't try to fix it overnight. Break it down in chunks and work on your changes one at a time.

2. Make positive promises. Instead of saying "I'm going to quit smoking" try making your resolution something like "I'm going to live as healthily as possible." Or instead of saying "I want to spend less money" try "I want to remember the abundance I already have in my life and make concrete plans for the future."

3. Forgive yourself if you screw up. Sing that stupid song to yourself that they play at hockey games -- "I get knocked down, but I get up again!" So what if it's really about falling off a bar stool. Just sing the chorus and remember that success isn't about winning every time, it's about trying again when you fall down.

4. Plan around your weaknesses. Know thyself. Do you always spend too much money with your friend Angie? Ask for her help in reeling yourself in. Maybe go to a movie instead of shopping. Or do you always want to smoke when you're around your cigar connoisseur friend Frank? Ask Frank to go golfing with you instead.

5. The power of ten. So your problem isn't saying no to something, it's that you're a slug at heart? Promise yourself that you'll try to do something for 10 minutes. If you still don't want to do it, you can quit. It's amazing that usually after 10 minutes of doing something, you won't want to stop! (Maybe it's not that you're a slug, it's just that you're into the same repetitive motion.)

6. The power of 17. Studies have shown that if you can do something for 17 times without having a lapse in the action, the act will become a habit. Like if you ate jelly donuts for 17 straight days, chances are that eating donuts for breakfast will become second nature. Guess what? The same principle works if you eat Wheaties for breakfast instead of the jelly donut.

7. Ask your family for help. Instead of hindrances, get them to be your soldiers in the fight to become a better person. Talk openly about saving money with your kids. Or the importance of doing something difficult and the satisfaction you get when you finally accomplish it. Not only will they want to help you, but it will be a good life lesson for them as well.

8. Start your day the night before. Don't wait until in the morning to start reforming. Get everything ready tonight that will help make it easier tomorrow to stick to your resolution.

9. Think positively. Don't think so much about what you're giving up. Think instead about what you're getting. You're not giving up sweets and fatty food, you're going to be a babe in a size 7. You're not giving up that new expensive toy that you really don't need, you're getting a fat bank account that will make your real dreams that much closer to becoming reality.

10. Give, to get and keep a healthy perspective. Face it, resolutions are about being self-absorbed. Get over it! Stop thinking about yourself for a bit and help someone else who might have (or had) a similar problem. Trying to quit smoking? Volunteer to help kids with asthma. Think you don't have enough money saved? Volunteer to help the homeless. Did you know that the state of Georgia only allots $100 a year for clothing for each child in foster care? Think about that the next time you feel sorry for yourself that you can't afford that new $200 dress.

--Trudy Bowen (TMF Hoyden)