It’s an oldie, but a goodie.  Over at Lifehack.org, Scott has compiled a list of 18 Tricks to Make New Habits Stick.  If you find that you’re having trouble sticking with a new goal, check out some of these techniques.

I’d like to add to #10: Use “But”. Instead of adding “But”, try using “And”.  It’s a tip straight from How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie - and an excellent one at that.  It’ll change the overall feeling from negative to positive, just with that one word change.  “I’d like to do that, but I can’t” suddenly becomes “I’d like to, and maybe we could also do this”.  Rather than sticking with the permanent no-way-can-I-do-that, you’re presented with the possibility that it could work out - and you’re given even more options to investigate.