I think my resolutions sound good but they turn out to be unrealistic. How can I set more realistic goals? Unrealistic goals are probably the leading cause of premature resolution death. We say we will lose 10 pounds in two weeks, exercise an hour every day, or never lose our temper. Unrealistic goals compound the all-or-nothing approach to goal keeping. We certainly can't live up to these goals, so we forget the whole idea. What are the unrealistic resolutions you have made in the past? See if you can rephrase them in a more moderate way. If you currently exercise two days a week, how about trying for a third day a week, rather than every day? Instead of focusing on weight loss, how about getting rid of the mid-morning donuts? It is better to make small changes you can stick to. If these small resolutions get too easy, you can always set your sights a little higher. Comfort yourself with the knowledge that small changes can make enormous differences. While reaching Olympic levels of competition will require hours of exercise a day, a mere 30 minutes of moderately vigorous exercise per day will confer substantial health benefits. While you may need to lose 50 pounds to get into those clothes you haven't worn in 15 years, losing only 10 or 15 pounds will improve your cholesterol and blood sugar levels, decrease your resting blood pressure, and significantly lower your risk of heart disease. I always intend to exercise, but my day gets too busy, and by the time my 5 p.m. class rolls around, I have too many fires to put out. Exercise first thing in the morning. Busy people often find they must get their exercise program out of the way first thing before the phones start ringing and projects come calling.

I feel guilty taking time to exercise when there is so much else I need to do.

In a busy lifestyle filled with multiple priorities, self-care often gets short shrift. Long-term goals get put on hold as we take care of daily obligations. Somehow self-care must become a priority. When you take good care of yourself, you take better care of business and your family. You make better decisions because you have more energy. You get sick less often so you can be more productive. Think of those exercise sessions as an account you are building for a more productive and enjoyable future.