It is January 2018 and with the start of a new year comes the inevitable creation of a New Year’s resolution. For many people, it is a time to better their life or start something they have always wanted to do. Unfortunately for a great many of those same people these goals quickly get put off for one reason or another. However, there are a few small things that can be done in order to help you achieve success throughout the coming year.

1. Make An Attainable Plan

One of the problems that arises when setting a New Year’s resolution is that we say we have a goal for ourselves, but we don’t take the time to plan out our path to reach them. When making any goal it is best to take the time to write down when you are going to start, how long it is going to take, and any major obstacles that may come up. At the same time, be sure that your goal is something you can do. Having a New Year’s resolution to be healthier is a very popular one, but saying “I want to lose 25 pounds in a month” isn’t practical.

2. Step-ups

The idea of doing something new or having a longtime goal attained is often such a great draw, we are likely to rush into it and push ourselves too far too fast. Take your new year’s resolution slow to start out. If you want to save up some money for a long awaited vacation, start out with saving small amounts, maybe five dollars a week for a month. Then build up to what you want to put away each week for the trip. Starting the journey of New Year’s resolution can be exhilarating, but don’t jump in headfirst without testing the waters.

3. Setup Support

Going in alone makes everything harder. When setting up your resolutions it’s always a good idea to have people around you who can support you throughout the ups and downs you can experience. Whether that person is your partner, a parent, or a close friend; communicate honestly and openly with them so they can assist you in whatever way you need to succeed. It may also help if the other person has a resolution or goal at the same time so you can support each other.

4. If You Stumble, Don’t Fall

Often when we are working on our New Year’s resolutions, life happens and it causes us to make tiny mistakes or miss small deadlines. You treat yourself to ice cream when you are trying to lose weight or you forget to put that extra ten dollars into savings. These small things can seem like massive failures to us in the moment and drag us down. It’s easier said than done, but overcome these small hurdles and keep going. Having one bad day doesn’t mean that you can never achieve what you are working for. Look back at your plan, talk to your support person, go back to the step you missed and keep persevering. Your goal will feel like an even greater accomplishment if you can overcome these difficulties.

Photography by NordWood Themes (via unsplash.com)