Did you make a New Year's resolution? Have you kept it? In all honesty, most people tend to give up on their resolutions by mid-January and, unfortunately, revert to their old habits.

Whether you have chosen to stick to a better diet, exercise more, find a better job or improve a relationship, there are ways to keep on track throughout 2006.

"It's not all or nothing, there are levels of success," says Lynette Loomis, a certified lifestyle coach. Lynette's business in Rochester works one-on-one with clients to help them achieve their personal and/or business goals. Lynette says it IS possible to stick to your New Year's resolutions if you stick to these tactics:

1. Own your goal.

"If you don't embrace the goal yourself, it's not something you want for yourself, you really don't have a chance at achieving it," says Lynette. Make sure that your resolution is something that you, not others in your life, want to accomplish.

2. Make your goal realistic.

"Don't set out to lose 100 pounds in four months, maybe step one would be 'I would like to lose four pounds this month',"says Lynette who advises that people honestly evaluate their lifestyle, choices and behavior as they craft a resolution for 2006.

3. Create a plan.

Develop a plan that will last throughout the year, taking small steps to achieve an end result. Taking small steps helps you to experience success along the way towards your ultimate goal.

4. Write it down!

"When you write it down, you put it where you will see it and it share it with a few of your friends who will help you stay honest with your behavior," says Lynette who encourages a support group to help you with both the successes and pitfalls as you work towards your goal.

5. Expect setbacks.

Let's face it, life happens...period. Expect that there will be times during the year that you will drift away from your game plan. The sooner you accept that there is no such thing as perfection when it comes to meeting a goal or sticking to a resolution, the easier it will be for you to maintain your plan. "And when you fall off the wagon and you falter, forgive yourself, it's not fatal," says Lynette.

6. Realize that you cannot control the behavior of others but, you can control your own.

Whether your goal is weight loss, career or relationship-driven, it's important to realize that not everyone will be as supportive as you might wish intentionally or unintentionally. Take time to understand the responses of others as well as yourself and make a substitute plan for moments when you might be faced with adverse behavior or be tempted to break your resolution. "The whole key here is substitute behaviors, know where the traps are, know where the barriers are," says Lynette.

For more information on lifestyle coaching through Lynette Loomis, call (585) 624-1300 or email Lynette: YourBestLifeCoaching@rochester.rr.com