Create "Positive Snowballs" to Stick to New Habits

Setting resolutions for the new year is easy, following up and sticking to them is where it gets difficult. One effective technique is to make your desired habits incredibly easy to execute initially, and then build on them. It's what weblog Pick The Brain calls a positive snowball. If you create new habits, and make them so insanely easy that you accomplish them every time (and leave in a good mood), you're creating what's called a "positive snowball" in your brain. All this means is that you're keeping a positive mental impression of this habit. So rather than exercising for an hour on day one, exercise for five minutes. Make it so easy you laugh afterwards, like it was a joke. Make it so easy that you're in a crazy good mood after. The secret is to set goals so tiny that you easily reach them, and you maintain a positive mood after. That is what will continue powering you all year. Starting small is advice worth following if your resolution is to lose weight, and it holds true for other goals as well. In fact, Pick The Brain also suggests taking the tiniest steps possible towards building your new habit since it puts you in a good mood and develops a favorable attitude towards the change you are trying to bring about.