BOSTON -- Traditionally, ringing in the New Year signals making lists and lists of resolutions, many of which we know we will never be able to keep past the first week of the new year, let alone the entire year! This year, why not try a different approach, one that is more realistic?

Make some promises to yourself that will help you improve the quality of your life. We all know that exercise, stress reduction and healthy nutritional choices are good for us. The difficulty comes in trying to change all of these things in one resolution list! Failure and defeat are sure to follow a long list that includes too many challenges. To set yourself up for a successful and healthier new year try the following approach:

Take a few minutes to visualize what you would look like if you were exercising, eating well and taking time for yourself.

Choose and write down promises that involve things that are important to you for YOU, not things that someone else wants you to do.

Limit your list to one or two things that you feel confident you can do and/or change to help you on the road to a healthier you.

Keep your list simple and positive (accomplishable!). Examples of promises include walking up the stairs in your office building every morning, taking a yoga class once a week, walking the dog after dinner, or eliminating bread and potatoes from your diet one day a week.

Make several copies of your promises and put them in places where you are sure to see them every day (i.e. in your day timer, on your desk, your mirror, etc.).

Remember that the road to better health and fitness can be traveled easily when you take one step at a time, designing a plan with promises that are positive and that help you build self esteem and success. This New Year of 2006 really can be a time of building a wealth of good health for each of us!