It's a new year (and a new decade), and if you're like lots of people, you want to make big changes for 2010. Maybe you want a new job, better health or love. Whatever your plan, STOP! That's right. Stop right now.

That's because when you make giant and sudden changes in your life -- like go cold-turkey with your TV habit or cut out all sugar-- it's hard to stick with it. Your psyche is used to the way things were, and just like a toddler who wants her way, if you change everything too fast, she rebels!

If you want change that's lasting and easy to create, try these tips:

3 Ways to Make Lasting Change

1. Take Baby Steps Little changes over time add up to big results. Ask yourself, "What one action can I take to change my life?" If you want to reduce your stress, start with a simple change like: add one hour of sleep a night or shift one recurring negative thought like, "I'm stuck," to a realistic thought like, "I'm figuring this out."

2. Think Small Want to make a big change? Make a small shift. Getting healthy feels like a big undertaking, but taking a 20-minute walk on your lunch break is pretty manageable. Small and steady wins the race!

3. Focus on Today's Plan A big goal--like finding a job--can seem daunting. Instead of fixating on the end, wake up each day with a daily plan you can easily accomplish such as: "Today I will write my resume," or "Tomorrow I'll set up a coffee meeting with Terry."