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As Big Ben chimes at midnight on 31st December we toast in the New Year and make all those decisions about what we want for the next year, and talk about all the great things we will achieve. Then what? By the end of January or possibly, if we are lucky, February our resolve has 'dissolved' and life carries on as normal until the next time Big Ben chimes out a new year.

Does this sound familiar? If so you are one of the millions of people who make (and subsequently break!) their New Years resolutions year after year.

So why do we do it? What makes January the first such a special time to make a change to our lives and why is it then so difficult to maintain that change?

The answer to this may never be fully known and understood but in my experience there are a number of key reasons that apply to some, if not all, of the broken resolutions.

- We are not at our most sober or 'clear thinking' when we make the commitment.

- Everyone breaks New Years Resolutions so why shouldn't we?

- January is wet, miserable and cold (or hot and sunny depending on where you live) and the weather affects our mood and desire to achieve.

- The friends we tell our resolutions to on NYE either can't remember or are too busy breaking their own to be motivational

So how can we make changes that are lasting in our lives? These are a few of the positive steps that we can all take to help us make lasting changes in our lives.

- Chose a day and time in the very near future and make that your 'change my life plan' day ' don't wait for New Year.

- Tell as many people as you can about your plan and tell them you want to stick to it. It is much easier keeping a commitment you have made to others than just to yourself.

- Set your goal or plan in achievable, measurable steps ' try and change the world in a day and you are destined to fail!

- Choose a looking forward plan where you focus on what you want to achieve, not what you want to avoid.

So as we head towards, or away from the New Year lets just enjoy the celebrations and make today the day to make lasting change.