Do you fall into the same trap as me? It's about to strike midnight - a new year - a new beginning - and then within 30 seconds of the clock striking midnight and welcoming in the New Year you have already broken that resolution! Well I have been doing

this for 16 years now and enough is enough!! Whether it is 2009, 2010 or 2033 and you're reading this, now is the time to change the way you make your New Year's Resolutions! It's time to make them EASY!!

EASY is an acronym for just how easily you can set and accomplish your goals for the new year:

1. E is for Easy. Too often when we set our new goals for the year we make them hard and this then leads to failure which then leaves you feeling pretty disappointed and down on yourself. So why not make them easy? Here are some examples of common New Year's Resolutions compared to a simpler and easier way to reach your ideal goals:

I am going to lose weight: I am going to cut out one snack a day or I am going to walk for 30 minutes a day or I am going to eat one piece of fruit a day.

I am going to get fit and healthy: I am going to add one extra piece of fruit or an extra vegetable to my diet each day or I am going to increase my exercise by a certain amount of minutes or difficulty each week/fortnight.

I am going to quit drinking alcohol: I am going to cut back on one drink per night/week/fortnight and do this every night/week/fortnight until I no longer drink or no longer drink in excess.

I am going to be a better parent: I am going to spend an extra 10 minutes with each child every day or I am going to read my children a book before they go to bed or I am going to spend at least one hour in the park with my children on weekends.

I am going to be a better wife/husband: I am going to leave my partner a quick little love note each morning or I am going to kiss my partner at least twice a day or I am going to compliment my partner on one thing each day or I am going to make sure I say "I love you" everyday.

As you can see when you generalise your New Year's Resolutions the task can seem tedious and require too much effort. When you get specific or break down your resolution into smaller, easier-to-achieve goals you are more likely to have success which will make you feel good about yourself, making it more likely you will keep up the good work!!

2. A is for Attention and Action. Don't put your New Year's Resolution on the back burner. You need to give it attention and to do this you need to take action! Write your resolutions on a sheet of paper and stick it in a place where you will see it everyday. This reminds you of your goals and keeps you focussed. Then use sticky notes or small bits of paper that you can place around the house with words of encouragement or inspiration written on them. Some examples are: "You can do it!!" "Keep up the good work!!" "Remember the World wasn't built in one day!!" Then pick a time either once a fortnight or once a month to review your resolution and see how far you've come. Tick off which goals you have already completed and give yourself a pat on the back!! Seeing your successes will make you stick at it!!

3. S is for STICK AT IT!! To err is human and everyone makes mistakes. But it's what we do with those mistakes that either make us a success or a failure!! So you accidently gained a kilo when you were supposed to lose a kilo!! Don't give up!! Get back to your original goal - was it to walk for half an hour a day? Then make sure you stick at it!! Did you spend $100 when you were supposed to save $100? Don't stress just stick at it!! Try selling a few things on Ebay or going without luxury items for a month and you will quickly have that $100 back in your pocket - if not MORE!! So when failure comes a knocking don't give up: STICK AT IT!!!

4. Y is for Year. Don't be unrealistic about the time frame in which to achieve your New Year's Resolution. After all you have a whole YEAR until the next one comes along!! Nobody can lose 5 kilos in a week!! Nobody can knock $10,000 off their mortgage in a month!! So be realistic and use the WHOLE year!! When setting a time frame to achieve your resolutions use the 365 days that you have been given and use them wisely!!

As you are probably aware by now it is more benefical to you and a lot less stressful if you pace yourself throughout the 365 days rather than try and cram all of your goals into the first or last month of the year. So be realistic, pace yourself and remember the EASY acronym. Good luck in sticking to your New Year's Resolutions and may you have a Happy New Year!!