http://www.netpicks.com/ If you haven’t managed to change something you’d like to in the past, then it’s not for the want of trying. You already know there’s something that you’re doing that you really shouldn’t be. New Year’s resolutions are not New Year’s revelations.

2. Yup, it's that time of year again - the
one where we all look back and think
of the things we haven't managed to
achieve or habits we'd like to
change. We resolve to do better in
the coming year and state what we'd
like to change.

3. But I'll put it to you now that
unless you do something
different this time, this year's
resolutions will end in the
same way as all the rest they'll end in failure.

4. If you haven't managed to change
something you'd like to in the past,
then it's not for the want of trying.
You already know there's something
that you're doing that you really
shouldn't be. New Year's resolutions
are not New Year's revelations.

5. It's not like this is the only time of year
you're able to go on a diet, start to
exercise, quit smoking, stop breaking
your trading loss limits, make sure
you prepare for trading each day or
start that trade journal you know you
should.

6. But then the holiday break is one
where in one way or another, we
all take a step back from
everything and have the chance
to reflect on life.

7. So the New Year is a great
opportunity to make a fresh
start for many. You can see
this by the number of people
who actually start it with
resolutions.

8. When it comes to resolutions, sticking to them
is in effect an exercise in habit replacement.
The trouble with this is that the habits we form
over time become particularly engrained and
therefore can be troublesome to change. If you
are trying to change a habit you are pushing
yourself out of your natural state of equilibrium.

9. This is stressful enough as it is but there
are things which can make your
willpower crumble. One of which is trying
to change too many things at once - fail
at one and the whole ship may capsize.
Willpower is an emotional resource and
so it can be depleted.

10. Arguments at home, trouble at work or
even lack of sleep can all take their toll
and end up depleting our levels of
willpower. So when your willpower is
already low, what's the first thing that's
likely to suffer? You got it - things that
push us out of our natural equilibrium.

11. There is a tipping point where you know
you need to change. Often this point
does indeed come in the New Year. But
it also comes at random points
throughout the year. It could be after
seeing old friends, an argument with your
spouse or stepping on the scales for the
first time in a while!

12. But once you have the motivation to start
to make a change you need to make
sure you're going to be able to go the
distance. It's going to be something that's
in some respects unique to each
individual, but there are some common
themes which can help.

13. Apart from the obvious about
being specific about your goals
(actually probably the last step)
it's desire, passion and results
driven motivation that'll help you
sustain change.

14. Understanding more fully why you need
to change is a great motivator.
Researching the health effects of not
being a good weight or smoking/drinking
is a good start. As is identifying exactly
how much a particular trading habit you
know is bad actually costs you through
the cold hard data.

15. But there has to be a benefit to retaining
your new habit once you get there. A
new natural equilibrium must be forged.
Feeling fit and healthy, enjoying great
clothes or seeing a great income stream
is definitely a good motivation, but is this
enough?

16. Now here's the bit where you might
need to be a little creative - but if you
do it can be a powerful tool to create
a new natural equilibrium so you are
less likely to slip up. For example, it's
not so difficult to get fit if you already
know you love playing a sport.

17. But what if you don't? What if the thing
you're trying to achieve can't be
associated with a passion? Well you
need to get creative. If you don't like any
sport, perhaps you like photography and
then that can be your drive to get outside
and be more active.

18. What about keeping a trading
journal? Perhaps you're a whiz at
Excel - use that passion to create a
great journal and then fill it. Or
perhaps you're really competitive - so
seek out what the competition is
doing and then beat it.

19. Success is not always a
black and white thing. It can
be measured by relative
performance which is always
a variable thing anyway.

20. So if you're able to see general progress
and movement in the right direction, then
it's easier to maintain your focus and
you're less likely to abandon your goals
when you have a stressful period in your
life. Track your progress and you'll find it
becomes a motivation in itself.

21. Making big changes in your life and
work is never going to be as easy as
making a New Year's resolution. It
takes time and effort and moreover,
a bit of cunning in order to change
your natural state of being so that
you might maintain a new habit.

22. The chances are that if you make
New Year's resolutions you'll have
struggled to keep them before. So
why not make the resolution to do
things differently this year? If your
goals are worth achieving, I suggest
you do.