5 Tips to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions

So what makes New Year’s resolutions successful — and how do you choose the right ones? Here are some ideas to start your resolutions on the right track:

1. Start small

Sweeping changes can be overwhelming and hard to keep track of. And big, vague goals tend to be less motivating. Your goals for the new year should be specific and measurable. When you pick a few small, meaningful goals that are in line with your bigger commitments, you tend to make more progress — and feel more energized in the process.

2. Recruit a friend

Most of the resolutions people set for the new year tend to fall into one of three categories: physical health, finances, or lifestyle changes (like journaling or watching less TV). That means that you probably already know someone who’s creating a new habit in the same area. Ask them to partner with you to keep you accountable and motivated.

3. Create a strategy

Of the stages leading up to taking action, preparation might have the biggest impact on how well your new habits stick. Determine what you’ll need to keep to your new habits. You might also want to consider where you’re the most likely to get off-track and create contingency plans just in case you do.

4. Don’t make perfection the goal

Nobody’s perfect, and when it comes to changes, progress is better than perfection. It's hard to start doing something perfectly 100% of the time when you start something new. Aim for a gradual increase. For example, instead of deciding to meditate every day when you’ve never tried it, start with three days a week for ten minutes each time.

5. Write it down

Science says that writing down your goals is key to making them happen — and for good reason. Not only are you more likely to remember them, but your brain is also more likely to flag the information as important. That’s key since it’s going to be a lot harder to accomplish (and celebrate) a milestone you don’t remember. Once it's written down, you can check in on your progress (and, best of all, cross things off when they're done!)

Building good habits in the new year

Above all else, there are two things you need to remember when setting your New Year’s resolutions. The first is that you don’t have to tackle everything at once. Even if it feels like you have a lot to work on, chances are good that you’ve accomplished a lot already — and if nothing else changed, you’d still be pretty great. Pick one thing that empowers you and make progress on it — not because you have to, but because you want to.

The second is that you don’t have to do it alone. Friends, therapists, family, coaches, and mentors are all excellent sources of inspiration and support.

By Allaya Cooks-Campbell