Today is the last day of 2016 and, as I do every year, I’m getting ready to make a few changes for the better. You can obviously resolve to do things differently anytime throughout the year, (and I often do) but I love the fact that if you give something up on New’s Year’s Eve, after midnight you can legitimately say that you haven’t done X since last year. It feels like a huge added sanctimonious bonus. A nice big leap into the right direction and into the brand new year.

Some people are negative ninnies about New Year’s Resolutions and seem to rail against them for the sake of it but I don’t buy into all that. They’re just lovely promises that can you make to yourself at the beginning of the year. It’s a charming, useful tradition and it makes way more sense than most of the others. (Trees inside our houses for a month? Not quite as useful.)

Resolutions can be about absolutely anything. You can tell everyone about them or keep them to yourself. They can be big bold altruistic endeavours or little loving personal commitments. There are no rules. I absolutely love making them. I always have done and I hope I always will.

New Year’s Eve has always been special to me. When I was little I remember my Mom and Dad letting my big brother and I stay up until midnight so we could all ‘let the new year in’. During the countdown to midnight, we’d all go to our big green front door, fling it wide open, breathe in the cold night air and cheer in happy unison:

“Five! Four! Three! Two! One! Happy New Year!”

We’d shout across the street to our neighbours.

“Shut the fuck up! Some of us have got work in the morning.”

Some of them would shout back.

Ahh, memories.

I’ve made loads of resolutions over the years and I’ve broken a fair few too. I’ve sometimes repeated the same one year after year (and countless times throughout the year too). I can’t remember how many times I said I’d stop drinking before I did actually stay stopped. The same goes for smoking.

Here are some suggestions if you’re thinking of making some New Year’s Resolutions this year:

1. Do It For Yourself

There’s not much point in doing something only because you’ve been badgered into it by other people. If you don’t genuinely want to do something, it’s usually only a matter of time before you renege on it – which will only make you upset in the long run, because you’ll feel like you’ve let people down. Choose a New Year’s Resolution that you actually care about. That you know you’ll be proud of yourself for achieving or even attempting.

2. Prepare In Advance

Usually people know which changes they want to make before it gets to New Year’s Eve. So prepare yourself in the lead up. For example, if you want to stop drinking, try to cut down in advance. Read some self help books. Try out some meetings. Join some online support forums. Get as many tips and suggestions as you can. Immerse yourself in the company of happily sober people and learn their ways.

3. Make Them Realistic

If ‘knitting a jumper for my cat’ was my No.1 New Year’s Resolution, I know I’d be pretty likely to fail. Mostly because I don’t have a cat. I don’t particularly like cats and I am terrible at knitting. So make sure your resolutions are something that you have an interest in. Make them a realistic possibility. It doesn’t really matter what it is as long as it’s doable and you’ll find enjoyment in doing it or by achieving the end goal. If you make them realistic you’ll stand a far better chance of accomplishing them.

4. Track Your Progress

As with most significant changes, it’s helpful (I’d actually say it’s imperative) to keep track of how you’re doing. You can do this online or with an app on your phone. Personally, I’ve always preferred to buy a gorgeous new notebook or diary to keep track of my progress throughout the year. I like holding something tangible in my hands. I like leafing through real pages filled with my own handwriting and I love that it’s way more personalised. Daily entries are best so that you keep the momentum up and get into the habit of thinking about your progress every day. For example, I do this with my gym workouts. I lift weights and every time I do a workout I try to beat my personal bests. I cross out the last weight and I write in the latest, heavier one. It’s great to see how you gain strength and stamina month after month. I also take regular progress photographs so that I can see how my body has improved over time. Gaining muscle, losing fat, toning up, leaning out, getting stronger. I love naturally changing the shape of my body through hard work and clean eating. It’s a slow process but it’s one that pays off in so many ways and it’s a long term lifestyle choice that I can improve on year after year.

5. Be Positive

Develop a positive mental attitude – this can be a New Year’s Resolution on its own. The chances are, you’ll start off all guns blazing and within a few days you’ll have lost momentum and will power. You’ll start to flag, you might slip up and then you’ll wonder why you bothered in the first place and maybe you’ll decide to leave it for another year. You must be more positive than that. Slipping up is all part of success. Slip ups are chances to fall down, dust yourself off and get back up again, having learnt something new. Keep trying. Keep recalling why you started, what it is that you want, what you need to to in order to get there. Keep going. Stay strong. Be positive and try to find enjoyment in the process.

Good luck and happy new year! xox