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What are you resolving this year?  Setting resolutions at the start of a new year can be effective if you create goals that are realistic and you make them fun in some way. You might brainstorm different ways to accomplish the goal or recruit a friend to help you do it. For example, to lose 10 pounds, consider how to exercise daily, take up a new fitness or martial arts class, and ask a good friend to be your workout buddy to keep you motivated.

The idea is to maintain a healthy sense of humor: The more rigid or extreme the goal is, the less likely it will be that it will be attractive or attainable. Allow yourself to make mistakes and enjoy the process as much as reaching---or even surpassing--your new goals.

Research in 2007 showed that while 52% of participants in a resolution study were confident of success with their goals, only 12% actually achieved their goals. Men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, a system where small measurable goals are used (lose a pound a week, instead of saying "lose weight"), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends.
 
Popular goals include: Lose Weight, Get out of Debt, Get Organized, Save Money, Improve Grades, 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, Be Less Grumpy, Be more independent, Learn something new.
 
We think it's pretty cool that martial arts training can help you keep your resolutions, in fact 9 of the 17 goals above if you plan on going to Korea with us!  If you want support with reaching your goals this year talk to an instructor about your training schedule and consider adding private classes.  If you're still sitting on the sideline, now is a great time to get started with our kickboxing or traditional martial arts classes.

Good Luck!