You've got your yoga mat, Beethoven tapes, and journal, so now what? How do you develop a routine? Everyone knows what can happen to good intentions (dust on the exercise bike in the basement; running shoes still in the box). Research shows it takes about thirty days to develop a habit, so a good way to psych yourself up for new changes is to commit to doing something for just thirty days. You can even tell yourself that after those thirty days are up, you are free to quit if you so choose. People often fear or loathe change, so committing to something for just thirty days makes it seem a bit more manageable.

You may also want to use triggers to help you form good habits. Triggers are little rituals people perform before engaging in an activity. You can use a healthy breakfast as a trigger to exercise, taking a short rest as a trigger to go to the gym, or watching your favorite TV show as a trigger to write in your journal.

Be realistic about the changes you want to make. If you really hate going to the gym, you're not going to show up on day thirty-one. Instead, buy some exercise tapes and use your living room as your workout room. Buy an exercise bike or take long walks around your neighborhood. Try to incorporate some fun into the changes you want to make. The changes should create more joy than pain in your life.