What Is Your New Year’s Resolution? by Cyndi Sarnoff-Ross/Marriage and Family Therapist: at DailyStrength Doctors and Experts

Cyndi Sarnoff-Ross is a licensed psychotherapist with almost twenty years of clinical experience in the fields of clinical psychology and organizational management br br She has worked extensively with a wide variety of…

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What Is Your New Year’s Resolution?

Posted in ADHD / ADD by Cyndi Sarnoff-Ross on Dec 31, 2008

Making a resolution for the New Year is the same process as setting a goal at any time of the year. I am a huge proponent of goal setting and I use it in my practice regularly. It is my firm belief that the best way to accomplish anything is to set a goal and then to map out the steps you will take to achieve that goal. It is helpful to do what I call breaking it down into manageable bites. You need to start by deciding on a goal that is reasonably doable. Begin by breaking it down into steps that are clear and can be easily accomplished. For instance, if your resolution is to live a healthier lifestyle, then break that into categories such as eating habits, exercise, hygiene, and emotional life. Make a list for each category of what you will need to do to begin to get closer to your desired goal. In this example you would set a general menu for yourself, including the foods you would like to eat more of and those you would like to at least partially eliminate. You can do this exercise for each category. Keep track of your progress as you go through your days. This is a very concrete example and goals that are more general will take more time and effort to break down.

Be reasonable and realistic as you set your goals. Say them out loud, tell a friend, and write them down. All of these things will help to assure your success and continued focus on the task. Remember that resolutions or personal goals don't need to be reserved for the changing of the year but can be made at any time. Although there does seem to be a propensity towards feeling as though we are getting a fresh start at the New Year and this is a time when many people feel compelled to make major and minor life changes.

So whatever your resolution is, may it be: to be healthier, to be kinder, to be more patient or more tolerant, to spend more time with your kids or your mate, to be more focused at work or less involved at work and more at home, to give more to charity, to organize your life better, to spend your free time more productively or to be more relaxed, to learn something new or make new friends, to listen better, judge less, hug longer or to just enjoy the moments of your life before the coming of the next New Year, make those resolutions consciously and with determination. Why not write them down here for all your friends at DS to see and get started with your commitment towards a change for the better. What are your New Year's resolutions?

Here's wishing you all peace, joy and health in the New Year and success in reaching your desired goals and fulfilling your resolutions.

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Displaying comments 24-5 of 24

start smoking. try heroin.

By Jigsaw Jan 08, 2009

To find a job and prevent myself from becoming homeless. Past years it was something silly like lose weight, stop smoking, make more friends.

By twosocks Jan 05, 2009

I usually do not make resolutions, but I did this year. Thanks to my sis and someone who has e-mailed me anonymously. For quite some time I've been asking myself about my attitude. I've asked am I really a monster. Last night and the night before that I got the answer. Yes.

By timgal Jan 04, 2009

to move back to LA

By ArtfulScarring Jan 03, 2009

I do not make them cause it usually is a promise to ourselves we cannot keep. I think the one thing I know I can improve on is how much time I spend with the Lord -- and increasing it!

By kgmorris22177 Jan 02, 2009

My personality doesn't manage resolutions (no imposed self control). But I have made some recent changes from within. I live alone, which has some blessings. I can choose my fellowship with others. I recently realized that I don't have to spend much time with negative people. Negative, including family members that don't understand, and make judgements. So, I'm more aware of positive influences and flow more to those.

By armchairtravelor Jan 02, 2009

Hello All

These are all great! My resolution is to spend more time taking care of me this year as I tend to take care of others and leave me behind. This will help me pray more, exercise more, get organized, enjoy my husband and step-daughters more and have fun!

By TerriC Jan 02, 2009

Hello All,
My foci for the New Year is simple. Focus on ME! I have spent so many years worrying about others, without anyone worrying about me. Another focus I have is to improve my financial situation. I hope to pay off all of my bills and recoup some of the money I have lent out . Wish me luck!!!!!

By WynK Jan 02, 2009

Pray more, worry less. Be thankful for small blessings and stay away from negative influences.

By Cybercatxq Jan 01, 2009

I tend to decided on my goals in December and make a start at that point - so that I have a "running start" for the NY. I also play a game with my friends - I ask them to choose a one word "theme" for the new year. It has to be actionable, positive, succint and reflect their overal goal for the year. Mine this year is "Kinder" - as in - I'm going to be kinder to myself and hope that flows through my life. Some others that have been chosen are: Moderation, Momentum, Advancement, Travel, Honesty, Action, Permission. If you would like to play please join us....I keep a list and whenever a friend is struggling I invoke the word. In 2006 I chose Sex as the word.....boy was that a mistake :)

By Millstarr Jan 01, 2009

I agree the bite sized approach is best. On the other hand, even bites can stack into an overwhelming meal. So if I'm adding a bite, I try to balance that with taking away a bite that's not working and if I add a bite that's not balanced by taking away, then I try to make it as fun as possible.

By CatherineKay Jan 01, 2009

I gave up on 'New Years Resolutions' ages ago. Realistic or not, they never work and seldom last more than a month for 90% of the population. I don't know of a single person who made one and kept it. Nice idea though.

By ALC67 Jan 01, 2009

My resolution is To lose fat.
http://www.peoples-health.com

By Devseo Jan 01, 2009

I too set realistic goals throughtout the year and not just at the New Year. January's Goal is to finish my unpacking from my move last year. Go through the closets and drawers to discard wrong sizes, torn, tattered, or clothes I no longer wear or like. When I do this I also find some new old friends (clothes) I had forgotten about having. LOL.

By MsP1955 Dec 31, 2008

None, that way I don't break them. Happy New Year to you.

By boobear1 Dec 31, 2008

The only New years resolution i have ever been able to keep was NOT MAKING NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS! I made that one after beingg frustrated with myself for so many years over resolutions i couldn't keep . BUT .......I'm breaking that one this year..... My resolution is to get control of my ADHD. I have an appointment in January and am going to keep that apointment and see how it goes. I'm going to keep CYNDI'S and break my goal down into baby steps. I WILL focus on one thing at a time.

By AuntPatti Dec 31, 2008

I cant even remember turning 30. I turned 60 in 2008! My big birthday was 50 which I celebrated here in Kanukistan. From there on you can figure that whatever you wanted to do in life, you are probably not going to do it now. You will be too tired, too entangled, too smart and too busy to take a year off and live in Paris and write a novel, or to gettaman (they want a nurse or a purse if they are looking for someone 50 years old.) On the other hand, you stop worrying about every whoop up in the stock market or rise in oil prices because you have survived at least four of these in the past!

My resolution this year is to cut down my outstanding credit card bills, to make it all the way to the end of the Sebring 12 Hours, and to write more letters. I like to write letters and am almost the only one in my family that does. People love to receive letters even if they personally do not write them.

By Appleby Dec 31, 2008

I have to lose 10 pounds
I have to exercise more
I need to be more assertive

By Kellie58 Dec 31, 2008

Ironically, I made a resolution a few years ago to stop making resolutions. I never could keep to them.

By InTheStillOfTheNight Dec 31, 2008

My goal is give up Soda, as I want to lose weight and even through I drink diet, but I have been told it still doesn't help me lose weight, I also want to work to getting back to work, walking and continuing to walk better.

By windigo Dec 31, 2008

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