At the beginning of 2011, I decided to switch up my typical approach to making New Year’s resolutions. Rather than chasing five or ten different goals (and accomplishing maybe two-thirds of one of those), I decided to switch gears and make one big resolution — one that honored my mom and enabled me to keep her presence in my childrens’ lives.

The goal

My one resolution was to go from someone who at dinnertime relied heavily on this…

…and this:

To a mom who whipped up some healthy goodness like this at least six nights a week…

{image via: Little Yellow Kitchen}

…and even bakes her own bread.

A tall order to be sure.

But I figured that, given the time horizon, it was within the realm of possibility.

As it turns out, I stuck with it and have become one of those people I used to eye suspiciously, if not downright incredulously: one who genuinely enjoys cooking dinner. But you know what I enjoy even more? Three boys who actually inhale quinoa.

I swear it makes me want to break out into song every time I see it happen.

Rest assured, my path to culinary glory has not been a straight one. No significant behavioral overhaul is though, which is why I thought it might be helpful to share some of the key lessons from my journey. I know I can’t be the only person who relied too heavily on packaged, processed foods in order to get dinner on the table, right?

The Journey

While I wasn’t conscious of it at the time, I gradually worked my way through four distinct phases between January and December. During the first phase, I flailed around and generally stumbled more than I succeeded. In the second phase I started to get my sea legs. By the time I got to the last two stages, I was really having some fun.

Over the next few days I am going to share with you the details from each stage of the journey. I’ll dole it out in bite-sized pieces because, as my mom always said, a little bit of chocolate every day is SO much better than a pound of chocolate all at once. Start here for the embarrassing recap of the first phase of my journey from frozen dinner queen to healthy weeknight cook.

Have you ever made a significant behavioral change? What was it? How long did it take to stick? Did you go through “phases?”

The statistics on setting New Year’s resolutions are pretty dismal. Most people won’t make it to the end of the month, let alone the end of the year. In fact, we’ve heard that as few as 2% of resolution-setters actually achieve their goals by year’s-end. Making a change stick is hard work. But it is possible.

No matter what your goals are for the year ahead, we want to help you achieve them. Organize yourself for success with these helpful tips.

1. Take time to evaluate 2011.

Consider the things that went well for you last year as well as the things that didn’t. Make a list of each. Take a moment or two to consider why you were successful or not. In addition, take a moment to celebrate your successes.

2. Ask yourself: “what lessons can I extract from my previous failures?”

I recently posted about the power of a failure wall. As one reader commented on Facebook, “often what we consider huge failures in our minds actually were great learning experiences and have brought us to where we are today – almost a backwards confidence booster.” Take the time to articulate the lessons learned from the stumbles you took last year. The wisdom you gained from making them will serve you well in the year ahead.

3. Get a notebook and write down your goals.

When you physically write something down, the few minutes that it takes for you to review and think about what you are trying to learn is the minimum length of time that neuroscientists believe is necessary to allow thought to go into a lasting, more easily retrievable memory. It also helps you focus your attention and keep track of where you are. Cement your goals by writing them down.

4. Forget about yesterday, last week, last year.

All that matters is what you do in this moment. Don’t paint yourself into a corner as a “failure,” because it is not a permanent state.

5. Start each day with a commitment to your goal(s).

Keep your goals in a spot where you can see and review them at the start of every day. I like to keep a laminated copy taped to the inside front of my to-do notebook, which I look at as soon as I sit down at my desk each day. I know Alicia keeps hers in the drawer of her bedside table and goes over her goals before she even gets out of bed for the day.

6. Script your moves for the first 30 days.

Shifting momentum is often the most difficult part of making a fresh start. Make it easier on yourself by assigning one to-do for each day of the first month so all you have to do is follow the path you’ve already charted.

7. Start small.

As Jonatan Martensson said, “Success will never be a big step in the future, success is a small step taken just now.” Even if it’s just exercising or decluttering for 5 minutes, the important thing is that you start.

8. Make one goal for each week.

Break your big goal into 4 weekly goals for each month. Then forget about the big goal and simply focus on the bite-sized one you need to achieve this week.

9. Plan to Fail.

That sounds depressing, but it’s not. Nobody is perfect. The key to success is expecting failure…and planning ways to bounce back from it. Consider your “weak spots,” like getting out of a warm and cozy bed early. Then brainstorm ways to overcome them, such as going to bed in your workout clothes or investing in a Clocky (that alarm clock that runs away from you).

10. Try some if/then statements.

Psychology researchers from NYU have verified the power of simple if/then statements in getting people to follow through on their intentions. For example, if weight loss is your goal, repeat a statement like, “if I go to a restaurant tonight for dinner, then I will order a salad,” to yourself. You might just surprise yourself when you order a salad as if on autopilot.

11. Stoke your emotional attachment to your goals.

Cut out quotes and images, keep a Pinboard (if you need an invite, just email sarah at getbuttonedup dot com and she will get you one). Keep them handy so that when you are tempted, you can look at something and immediately feel a strong sense of connection to your end goal.

12. Measure your progress.

Pick one or two metrics to measure and keep track of your progress every, single day. Look back at your progress each week and month and celebrate!

13. Make a public statement.

There’s nothing like committing to a goal publicly to keep you honest. Post on your facebook wall, send an email to friends and family, or tell all of your colleagues what you are going to accomplish, by when. Encourage them to check in on you and heckle you if you are not living up to your end of the bargain.

14. Get an accountability buddy or community.

We all need one person who can hold our feet to the fire. If all of your friends and family are pushovers, hire a coach or trainer instead. Or consider joining or creating a Meetup group that will accomplish the same thing.

15. Keep a daily gratitude list.

When you are filled with appreciation for what you have, your mental state shifts dramatically in a positive direction. Start each day by noting all the people and things in your life you are grateful for and take note of how the tone of your days improves.

16. Pat yourself on the back once a week.

It can be easy to get swept up in busyness. But celebrating your progress each week is critical to staying on track. Take 5 minutes every Friday afternoon or Sunday evening and write down at least 3 things you did (or learned) that brought you closer to your intended goal.

17. Reframe what it means to fail.

A teacher once told Sarah that the only way to fail was not to learn. It transformed how she looked at her progress. If you fall down, pick yourself up and ask yourself what you can learn from the experience. Learn how you can prevent the same thing from happening in the future.

18. Stop the comparisons.

Goals are personal. Don’t compare yourself or your rate of progress to anyone else. Focus instead on doing the best you can do today.

19. Sign up for a challenge.

There is something about working towards a big challenge that keeps you focused and on track. Find a relevant one to you and sign up.

20. Reward your self-control.

Keep a little sticker or star chart going for yourself on an index card you can keep your wallet. Every time you exercise self-control as it relates to your goal, give yourself a star. Each time you hit a certain number of stars, say 10, reward yourself with something like a manicure or a yummy smoothie.

21. Find someone successful to imitate.

As Anthony Robbins says, “success leaves clues.” You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Speed up your progress by modeling the program of someone who has been successful in the area in which you wish to succeed.

22. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Repeating tasks is the way to mastery. You should repeat one or two of the same tasks that are crucial to the change you want to make each and every week. Before you know it you will be able to do them on autopilot.

23. Be still once a day.

If you have had a good day, consider this an opportunity to energize yourself and tap into your insight and creativity. If you haven’t had a good day, a quiet moment serves as a fresh start. Clear your mind, clean your slate, and begin again.

What are you committed to changing this year? In what ways do you like to start fresh?

Did you start the year with good intentions to lose weight, get organized, or spend less/save more? And how are you doing so far? Did you fall off the wagon sometime between January 1st and today? If you have, don’t fret, you’re in good company. Fewer than 2% of people actually follow-through on their New Year’s Resolutions.

But this year is going to be different.

Today, Sarah & Alicia are talking about how to rescue your New Year’s resolutions.

Listen in as the Get Buttoned Up co-hosts sit down with three experts who will tell you how to get back on track to realizing the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the year (fueled by champagne or not). Their first guest is Chris Coash from Jenny Craig, who shares tips and strategies for jump starting your diet and, more importantly, keeping the good work up over the long haul. Next up is Deb Allison Lee, a certified professional organizer in the Washington DC area and woman behind the website DAllisonLee. She’s got great perspective on the biggest organizational pitfalls and how you can overcome them. And finally, they’ll speak with Amy Suardi, the woman behind the fabulous blog Frugal-Mama, and frequent contributor to GetButtonedUp.com on all things frugal.

Sarah and Alicia will summarize the three biggest secrets for getting your resolution mo-jo back and sticking to it. They’ll also push you to get back on the wagon in this week’s “Challenge.”

If you’ve ever had an intention to change but failed to follow through, this is a great podcast to listen to. Put the strategies they uncover in this episode to work for you and come December 31st, you’ll be able to count yourself as one of the elite few who actually stuck to their resolutions this year.

It is one month since I committed to my 3 New Year’s Resolutions and I have to admit, it hasn’t been easy nor have I been fully committed to each one.

However, I haven’t fallen completely off track and feel that I’m doing way better than any year before this one. Below is a recap of my resolutions and how I am honestly doing so far:

1) Work out at least 3 times a week and keep track of calories-in / calories-out every day – So I’ve been working out at least 4 times a week which is better than my goal; however, I haven’t been keeping track of calories-in / calories-out every day which I need to focus more on.

2) Drink less (limit 1 night/week) – I have been doing pretty well with this. I haven’t been perfect – I think I just need to replace the drink with something else to help me relax or unwind, like ice cream or a back massage! Now I just need to get my boyfriend to give me one!

3) Focus and appreciate the positive things in my life and less on the negative – This has been a lot harder than I thought it’d be! I get so swooped up in the daily grind and the little things, that I keep forgetting to look at the big picture and the great things I have in my life. Maybe I need to pinch myself every time I have a negative thought! Any ideas on how I can stop my mind from focusing on the negative?

So that’s my update. How are you doing on yours?

I was in Philadelphia on Tuesday – on NBC’s The 10! Show. My mission: help people get started on their New Year’s resolution to get organized with helpful tips culled from our brand new book, Pretty Neat.

It was such a treat to see the lovely team at NBC – can’t wait to go back! Get the tips – check out the segment here:

I am determined to stick to my resolutions this year, so to help me do that, I am sharing them with you so you can help me stick with them!

I will give you updates and my progress. And please share your resolutions so I can help you stick with yours too!

1) Work out at least 3 times a week and keep track of calories-in / calories-out every day (I need to get in shape by end of March for my sister’s wedding in Hawaii!)
2) Drink less (limit 1 night/week)
3) Focus and appreciate the positive things in my life and less on the negative

3 Days Into January: Make sure you are keeping you resolutions. Already slipped up? Don’t worry. Make today your first day of the year! #organize #newyears

As many of you already know, I lost my mom very unexpectedly this past July, which you can read about here, and here.

Looking forward to the New Year and the new decade, I am committed to carrying elements of her and her lessons forward in the hopes that by doing so, my children will get to “know” her.

One of her most defining strengths was her creativity and prowess in the kitchen. Even though she worked long hours as a physician, she managed to whip up healthy, homemade dinners every night when we were children, a tradition she continued even after we had flown the coop. She cooked with an abundance of love – fierce in her desire to nourish the people in her life she loved. We used to joke with her that she was like MacGuyver in the kitchen, able to turn out a four-course meal with only beans and a can of olives in the pantry. She even made her own bread.

As a working mom myself, I have often relied on the “I’m too busy” excuse and punted the ball where dinner is concerned. I can’t count the number of times we’ve settled for a frozen meal or simply ordered out because I wasn’t organized enough with the meal planning. The same holds true for lunches. I know my boys eat far too much mac & cheese for lunch…fine every once in awhile, but not as a regular thing.

My ONE resolution

So this is the year I get it together on the cooking front.

My goal is, by the end of the year, to cook 6 healthy meals from scratch a week and pack a healthy lunch for my boys every day – and make my own bread at least 1 time a month. For this first quarter, my goal is to cook at least 3 healthy meals a week from scratch and pack or make a healthy lunch for Will and Lachlan at least 4 days a week.

I’m going to be willing to fail a whole lot along the way. Starting with bread. I’ll be blogging about my progress as the year goes on.

Here’s mom’s recipe for Oatmeal Bread:

Happy New Year to everyone. May you all have strength, health and happiness all year!

What one thing will you organize in January? Pick one & get it done! #newyears #resolutions #organize #clutter

Tell one person about your resolution and commit to them to stay with it. #newyears #resolutions #organize