This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Keep that New Year's Resolution by Using Patch!

Five tips to help you keep your 2013 resolution – and ways Trenton-Grosse Ile Patch can help.

Are you making a resolution this year? Do you want to lose weight, gain a new skill or organize your house? Whatever your resolution is, here are some tips to help you stick to it throughout the year.

1. Make it attainable. Be sure that your resolution is attainable. Sticking to your monthly budget is attainable—making a million dollars may not be. Use Patch's Grocery Specials section to find coupons for the items you actually need at stores near you.

2. Tell everyone. If you tell everyone about your resolution, you are more likely to keep it. If you want to quit smoking, you can even go as far as telling your friends that you'll give them $50 if they catch you lighting up. Start a blog on Patch and ask them to hold you accountable, but also provide support.

Find out what's happening in Trenton Grosse Ilewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

3. Be specific. If you want to get fit in the new year, set a specific goal. For example, instead of saying you want to get fit, say you want to lose 10 pounds and tone your arms and legs. Find a gym offering the price, location and hours that work for you in Patch's business directory.

4. Start small. Create small goals for yourself. If you want to organize your house, assign one room to each month. In January, organize your kitchen. In February, organize your bedroom. In March, your organize your office. In April, you organize your garage, and so on. Keep an eye on Patch's events calendar for the Mom2Mom and garage sales you can use to get those extra toys, clothes, furniture and more out of your house once and for all.

Find out what's happening in Trenton Grosse Ilewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

5. Write it down. It's important to motivate yourself throughout the year. Write your resolution down on every month in your calendar. Don't let yourself forget about your resolution as the year goes on. Start a blog about your resolution on Patch and we'll provide a virtual cheer squad to keep you going month-to-month. 

What are your New Year's Resolutions? Share them the comments below.

For the latest Trenton and Grosse Ile news and information, "like" Trenton-Grosse Ile Patch on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and sign up for our daily newsletter.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?