With the New Year coming quickly, people find themselves setting goals that are sometimes unachievable. People make New Year’s resolutions for a myriad of reasons, whether it be you want to take better care of your body or you want to clean more. The New Year feels like a time to make changes and is a fresh start to a new beginning. It isn’t that you shouldn’t write out your resolutions, but make sure to be realistic. It doesn’t have to be huge, life-altering changes, it could be eating breakfast or getting more sun. It doesn’t always have to be “new year, new me.” So how can you set goals for yourself and follow through?

• When writing out your goals, be clear and concise on what you are looking to achieve.
• Track the progress you make if it’s something that can be defined
• Be patient and kind to yourself.
• Don’t get down if it takes you longer to achieve your goals. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither were you.
• It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Start small and if you make mistakes or go off course you can always make your way back, but if not, it isn’t the end of the world.
• Tell your friends and family, so they can help hold you accountable
• Set smaller goals and build on them as you make progress
• Check-in with yourself often
• Celebrate little victories and allow yourself the time to be proud of your progress
• Believe in yourself. Sometimes the best thing you can do is believe that you can achieve what you set your mind to.

A lifetime provides you so many opportunities to be who you want. Start slow and provide yourself time to accomplish your desired outcome. Most importantly, have fun and be positive.