1. When you are about to stray, remind yourself why you made the resolution in the first place and the benefits of sticking to it
2. Tell as many people as possible; how much embarrassment is breaking your resolution worth?
3. Don’t let past experience stop you – ‘I didn’t manage it last time’ can just as easily be seen as ‘because of my experience I am now better prepared to achieve it’
4. Imagine, very vividly, the experience of reaching your goal and then the main steps for getting there, working backwards to your present situation – your path should now appear clearer
5. Commit to doing something you’d really dislike if you break your resolution; the thought of taking Mum to see Tom Jones in concert could be a powerful force to help you resist that Marlboro light