It is 13 days into the new year and I’m wondering how many of the millions of people who made New Year’s resolutions have already abandoned them. According to www.USA.gov, the most popular New Year’s resolutions are to:

• Lose weight
• Pay off debt
• Save money
• Get a better job
• Get fit
• Eat right
• Get a better education
• Drink less alcohol
• Quit smoking
• Reduce stress
• Take a trip
• Volunteer to help others

Did you make any of these resolutions? If so, are you making progress or have you given up? One of the problems with resolutions is that they are more like wishful thinking than specific intentions.  There is a big difference between saying “I really need to lose some weight” and “I will lose 20 pounds by May 31, 2008 by eating fewer calories and walking for 30-minutes 4 times a week so that I can play with my kids and dogs without getting winded.”

It’s not too late to set an intention or two for 2008.  Forget New Year’s resolutions and create intentions that are SMART, meaning that they are:

• Specific - include the reason why this intention is important to you (for example, so that I can play with my kids and dogs without getting winded)
• Measurable - measurements will help you track progress and let you know when you have achieved your goal (for example, lose 20 pounds by May 31, 2007)
• Action-oriented - outline specific actions you will take to achieve the goal (for example, eating fewer calories and walking 30 minutes 4 times a week)
• Realistic - set yourself up for success
• Time-oriented - include details about when you’ll do specific actions (for example, walking 30 minutes 4 times a week and …by May 31, 2007)

Now, write down your intentions and put them in a place where you’ll see them every day.  Research has shown that the simple act of putting your intentions on paper increases the likelihood of achieving them.  Remember that almost anything is possible once you decide to make it happen, get into action and stay the course.