Surviving New Year's Resolutions!

Happy New Year, dear resolution warriors! Did you scribble your resolutions on last night's dinner napkin between toasts and grapes? Excellent! You're one step closer to joining the club of those who try (and sometimes succeed) in not abandoning their resolutions before January 15th. Forward with the challenge!

Want to become the next Serena Williams? Great, but let's start with something less intimidating. Break that huge goal into tiny, manageable pieces. For instance, if you want to write a book, start by writing one page a day. Before you know it, you'll have a manuscript, not just an idea floating in your head!

Routine might sound boring, but it's magical. If you get used to doing something every day, eventually your brain will accept it as part of your life (yes, even exercise). Imagine running every morning; after a while, your body will stop thinking you're fleeing from something and start seeing it as normal. Amazing!

Misery loves company, and so do New Year's resolutions. Find a friend, family member, or an online group that shares your goal. This way, when one of you falters, the other can offer a word of encouragement or a nudge (or a sarcastic reminder, as needed).

Skipped a day of your plan? No big deal. You're human, not a machine programmed for perfection. The key is to get back on track the next day, not to punish yourself for a slip-up. Remember: success is not about never falling, but about getting up one more time than you fall.

Managed to stick to your exercise plan for a week? Avoided sweets for three days in a row? Celebrate! You don't need a parade in your honor, but acknowledging your achievements will motivate you to keep going. And if someone says you're celebrating "little things," invite them to join your resolution survivors' club.

New Year's resolutions are like that plant you were given and, against all odds, is still alive: they require attention, care, and a bit of love. So, take care of your resolutions, water them with effort and affection, and enjoy watching them bloom. And remember, if by mid-February you've already forgotten your resolutions, there's always a next year to try again (or to write the same ones on another napkin!).