Will the New Year herald a new you? Hypnotherapist and personal development specialist Ian Broadmore, reveals his definitive tips for improving self-motivation.

Many of us overindulge over the Christmas period or become couch potatoes in front of the television. 2007 is a new year and a new year is a great time to make those changes you want. Maybe you want to lose weight after to much Christmas pudding or give up smoking and lead a healthier lifestyle, or perhaps you want a new job or to start a business or its time to redecorate the house.

Whatever you set out to achieve it requires motivation and motivation starts in the head. But how do you motivate yourself to do something you don’t really want to do ?Most people make New Year resolutions but either don’t start them or simply give up as they don’t get the results they wanted quickly enough.

It’s important to set realistic goals and take small steps, follow my top ten tips and you are certain to maintain your motivation and achieve your goals in 2007.
Good luck!

• 1. Set an achievable target for the amount of work you will do each day and what you want to achieve and stick do it. Don’t try to overdo it; if you set unrealistic goals and then run out of time, it will de-motivate you.
• 2. Use clear and specific indicators to monitor your progress against the task; set realistic timelines that are achievable.
• 3. Visualise the desired outcome: see yourself already having achieved what you set out to do.
• 4. Start a motivation map. Put a pin board on your wall and pin up pictures of whatever it is that you want to achieve (i.e. new car, more rewarding job, lose weight, give up smoking and improve fitness). Write down some 'trigger' words that will inspire you to live your dream. Look at the board every day and KNOW that you will get there.
• 5. Forget about the concept of "trying"; focus instead on either "doing" or "not doing".
• 6. Develop realistic expectations of yourself. Don’t be over optimistic when it comes to setting goals, but be honest and say “I can do that” when you can. It may take time to reach your goal, but even a journey of a thousand miles starts with one small step.
• 7. Break down goals into bite-sized tasks; a little progress a day is better than none at all.
• 8. Minimise your self-defeating behaviours and thoughts, such as low confidence, perfectionism, and procrastination. Instead, focus on small improvements and small successes.
• 9. Reward yourself and feel good about your accomplishments, no matter how small. Don’t just focus on what’s left, or what you have not done, but focus on what you have achieved. Give yourself a pat on the back, look in the mirror, and say “Well done”.
• 10. Feel your fear. Fear stops you dead and robs you of your dreams, but only if you let it. Fear is the dark force of destruction, the crusher of spirit, hopes and aspirations. Instead of being ruled by fear, turn it around and use your fear of failure as a motivator to turn the negative into the positive and stick two fingers up to the world. Then you can look back and say “I did it”.

About the author: Ian Broadmore (D.Hyp-Psy, SQHP, MIAH, MNHR) is a leading hypnotherapist, personal development coach, and stress management specialist, of more than 15-years experience, who provides a range of life-changing solutions to individuals, companies and business executives. He founder and Managing Director of the Harley Street based Abintra Clinic.