A new year comes with his challenges and opportunities. Over the years many people have coined resolutions at the beginning of the year for themselves. You hear people making resolution to stop an habit or learn a skill but before you know it they are already back to their old ways. Making a New Year resolution can be easy but living by it is not a child's play.

This story shed more light in to it. David is a seasoned banker who works for one of the leading Bank in the country.

He has garnered over 15 years of experience in the banking industry. His Salary, perks and benefits are quite large. By his status, He lives with his family in one of the best neighbourhood on Lagos Island. In addition to his official car, he has three other vehicles. One SUV for himself during the weekend, another SUV for his beloved wife and a mini bus to take the children to school. David is diligent, smart and intelligent which culminated in his rapid promotion.

While travelling on the express to an event, His car had a serious accidents and he was immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment. The whole family was sacred but within weeks he recovered from injuries he sustained. After the incident, he began to do a personal inventory of his investment, assets and property but he was shocked to know that what he only has to show for his fifteen years careers in the banking industry is one his uncompleted building and his fleet of cars.

Thereafter, he made resolutions to do something about his future and his retirement plan. But before you know it, he relapsed on his resolutions and continued his lavish life style. A year passed and the management of his company decided to the lay off some staff. He was affected by the mass sack and things went soar for his family. David's story is a perfect example of failed resolutions.

1. Set realistic and achievable goals
Setting goals that are vague is sure way to failure. No resolution guarantees automatic doom more than the vague ones like, "I'm going to eat learn a new skill" or "I'm going to get in shape". Our goals must achieve the SMART nuggets. Each goals must be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely. While this is necessary, making them personal, positive and present will also help because it will help to convince your brain that you have already achieved your goal.

2. Create small actionable and attainable steps
Each of your goals should be broken or divided into small achievable goals. Usually, goals are achieved in bits. Little successes birth the big ones. For instance, a person that want to learn a new skill or expertise can decide to get series of certification. Attainment of one certification leads to another.
If you set yourself a series of small milestones on the way, you can celebrate the realisation of each step, which will also make it much more likely that you will actually achieve your ultimate goal.

3. Don’t have too many resolutions.
Having a lot of resolution can sometimes deter one in achieving any of it. Focus on the one that will give the biggest reward. Many of us set ourselves up with a number of goals going into the New Year. Instead of stretching yourself too thin, focus on the one area that will give you the biggest reward as often it will also have a positive impact on other areas of our life as an additional benefit.

4. Identify other people who can help you achieve your goal.
All of us need help achieving our goals. Whether that's enlisting the positivity of a supportive friend or identifying the key stakeholders and influencers that will help us get that promotion, new role or pay rise. Share your goals with other people and you're 50% more likely to achieve them. The key is to make sure the person you share your goal with is someone you trust and is a supporter rather than a detractor.

5. Manage the Challenges and Hurdles
Nothing good comes easy. In achieving your resolutions, challenges will always come. Solving this challenges paves way to solutions There will often be barriers to achieving our goals. Know that they exist and think up front about devising strategies to get around them. People often say they don't have enough time to devote to change. Don't let hurdles trip you up, be committed to find practical ways to circumvent them to achieve your goals.

Each resolution you see through will see you through in the new year.
Source: http://opeonayemi..com/2014/01/5-tips-to-achieving-your-new-year.html

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