Turn Your Resolution Into a Goal
Having a specific goal for your resolution makes it easier to track progress. Instead of saying, "In 2013, I'm going to lose weight!", decide how much weight you'd like to lose, then divide it by twelve. That will give you a monthly goal. By doing this, it makes the resolution manageable. If your goal is to get out of debt, find out how much you owe and make a monthly plan to pay it off.
SMART Goals
Now that you have a goal, make sure it is a SMART goal. SMART means, Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time sensitive. Specific is having the goal be, well, specific. Instead of 'loose weight' or 'get out of debt' decide how much weight or how much debt specifically you want to loose. Measurable means that you will know if the goal has been achieved. Instead of saying, "I want to get a faster race time," say exactly what time you want to get. Attainable means that it is a goal that can be reached and you will know when it has been reached. Realistic means that it is something that is possible for you to do. For example, it's not realistic to drop 100 pounds in one month. But you can set a realistic, healthy goal of 8-10 pounds per month. Continue setting new goals to eventually reach the big goal of dropping 100 pounds. Goals can be high, but make sure they are realistic. Time Sensitive means that the goal has a deadline. Instead of saying 'someday' give a specific day. This adds a sense of urgency that will motivate you.
What if you don't make your goal by the time-line you set? Don't give up! Re-evaluate your goal and figure out how you can make it happen.
Many people give up on their resolutions because they were not properly stated in the terms of attainable goals. Figure out what you want to achieve, and create a SMART goal to get you there!