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Every year thousands of people make a New Year’s resolution to work towards in the coming year. It’s a frequent topic of conversation around the holidays, and one that often results in reflecting on previous unachievable resolutions.  For many people, the new year is associated with a fresh start that signifies the starting point of working towards their goals of becoming healthier, happier, and more successful. However, most people fall short in keeping their resolution just a few short weeks into January. If you have a goal you are trying to achieve to better your life; the following tips will be helpful for making and keeping your new year’s resolution.

Set a realistic goal.

To be successful, you need to set a realistic, specific goal. Most often, people fall short in reaching their goals because they set too broad of a goal. If your goal is not specific, it can be easy to give up and fall back into similar patterns and routines. To be successful, choose one achievable goal and determine what steps you will need to take to reach it. Planning out the steps to your resolution can take some time, so try not to wait until the last minute to decide. To avoid setting a vague resolution, utilize the SMART acronym for setting up your plan. Your goal should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-sensitive. If you follow this outline, your likelihood for success will be much more plausible.

Make your plan.

Now that you determined your new year’s resolution, it is time to create a plan for getting started. It can be overwhelming to think about reaching the final destination so instead, focus on the journey and small steps that will get you there. Write down your plan of action and consider possible roadblocks you may run into along the way. Incorporating small changes and celebrating your wins along the way will help increase your motivation and likelihood of reaching your overall goal.  

Find sources of inspiration and motivation.

After the excitement of the new year and your new resolution wears off, it can be challenging to push yourself to continue. When you face times of discouragement, remind yourself of why you started and what your consequences will be if you give up. Find inspiration by journaling, creating vision boards or whatever you need to do to stay positive and on track. Communicate with a strong support system of friends and family who will be there to share advice and keep you motivated.

A New Year’s resolution can be accomplished with the right mindset and motivation. Setbacks may occur along the way, but shouldn’t be seen as a reason to give up. The path to success is not always straight. Perseverance and dedication paired with measurable points of action along the way will help you achieve anything you set your mind to.