Now is the time of year when many of us create new years' resolutions, but we often fail to keep them. Rather than thinking of it as a resolution, think of it as an action plan. Since we make resolutions to change a habit or behavior, or to achieve a goal, action is key. To create this plan and achieve your goals, utilize the same steps you would use to get organized. They are:

1. Set a realistic, definable, meaningful goal. Make sure that your goal is important to you and will create positive change in your life. State it in concrete terms. Instead of saying, "I will organize my office," restate it to define the specific actions you will take, such as "I will sort, purge and assign homes to everything in my top, desk drawer."
2. Make your goal a priority. We all have many things competing for our time and attention. Put this goal at the top of your priority list. Know exactly what you will gain by achieving this goal.
3. Break down your goal and set realistic deadlines. Don't try to achieve it all at once. Break it down into smaller parts that are manageable given the time you have. Know how much you need to accomplish each day, week or month in order to meet your deadline.
4. Set a specific time to work. Choose a time of day when you know you work best. I know that I do my best writing in the morning, so I schedule my writing tasks immediately upon getting up - even before I shower and get dressed for the day!
5. Talk about your goal with other people. Share it with supportive friends and family members. Have an accountability partner who will help you stay on track and give you encouragement.
6. Get help when you need it. Sometimes you'll need someone to help you create or implement your plan. This could be a family member, a friend or a professional.
7. Document your progress. Keep a journal or calendar to record your achievements.
8. Celebrate your successes. Reward yourself when you complete a task that brings you closer to your goal. The reward should be something simple such as taking a walk, watching your favorite show or having a cup of tea with a friend.
9. Be gentle on yourself. Research shows that it takes 21 days to develop a new habit. When I am teaching organizing workshops, I tell participants that being organized is about creating new habits. I like to use this metaphor, "Creating a new habit is like walking through deep snow. At first it is really hard. But each time you walk the path, it gets easier. Eventually, it is easier to walk that path than to break a new one."
10. Take action. We often wait to feel inspired or motivated before we start a project. However, those emotions may come after we take action. If I am unmotivated, I set a timer and commit to working for a short period of time. If I am still unmotivated when the timer rings, I give myself permission to stop. More often than not, however, I set it again and keep going.

Good luck in achieving your goal! Be concrete, make it a priority and take action in manageable increments. Remember, "A journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step."