Hi Kristen. Yes the idea of New Years resolutions can be a bit silly. But I guess it is a good way to start the year afresh with new goals & changes in mind. I agree, keeping your goals realisitc and simple definitely helps in making them achievable! One of my goals is to go to bed earlier so I can utilise the early morning more efficiently. Have I started on it yet, NO, lol! All the best in 2008, Ky *;-)

I must admit, I've always scoffed a bit at New Year Resolutions. Mainly I do this because I have never heard someone say on December 31 'yep, reached my new year goal for this year'.

I think that goal setting is important and I do a lot of it, but I think many, many people have forgotten about their new year resolutions by January 31, let alone December 31!

So my challenge to people - make your New Year Resolutions more than just party conversation. I like your advice about goal setting. I would encourage goals to be specifc and to have a plan.

For example

- "I want to lose weight" might be "I want to lose two kilos a month this year, and I will do so by following ***** diet and walking the kids to school"

- "I want to get out of debt" might be "I will draw up a budget, limit my spending, pay and extra $100 off the credit card every month instead of buying new clothes and upgrade the mortgage repayments by $80 a fortnight to build up some savings" - very specific.

- "I will spend more time with the kids" might be "Every Tuesday afternoon after school we will go down to the park as a family"

So I challenge you - make 2008 your goal keeping year, not just another goal setting and forgetting year. Come on, it's the 2nd of January already - only 354 days to go until you can say you've reached you 2008 goal!

GREAT ADVICE

THANKS FOR SHARING

EMZ