Balance your resolution-making between yin aims (creating a longer-term vision) and yang objectives (short-term steps).

Yin goals are about putting your 'vision' out there and letting it go.

• What do you want to look like, feel like, be doing this time next year?
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• Build a word-picture or a story about yourself and write it down. Do no more until you look at it again on the same date next year.

Using your yin 'vision' as direction, put your Yang into action by deciding on no more than three specific goals or objectives for the year. If one of them is a big one (like stopping smoking or changing jobs) leave it at just one. You can then put some energy into achieving them, one by one.

• Make each objective specific and realistic. If it's stopping smoking, how few, by when?
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• Make a step by step plan. For each objective, ask yourself: 'What will I do tomorrow?', then 'What will I have achieved by next week?', then 'What will I have achieved by next month?'
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• Write these down in your diary
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• Tell someone about it, make sure you have the support you need
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• Review your progress at every stage

Melanie Allen is an independent life, career and management coach and can help you to find your own direction. Melanie offers a FREE first session and can be contacted on 01943 468799, by email talk@melanieallen.co.uk or through her website.