7 Steps to Successful New Year’s Resolutions 

1. Take stock of the previous year. What goals had you wished to accomplish that you let slip away, failed at, or forgot about during your busy year?

2. Identify which unfulfilled items from the previous year are still relevant for that which is coming–and let go of the ones that are no longer relevant.

3. Set concrete goals and assign deadlines for achieving those goals throughout the year (no one says you must have just one resolution).

4. Break down each goal into smaller components, each with its own mini deadline.

5. Set rewards you can work toward for each success, even if just a mental pat on the back.

6. Record your goals on paper or electronic media to remind you of them at least once a day. You can set a daily alert on your phone or old-school it with a piece of paper attached to the inside of your medicine-cabinet door.

7. Tell other people about your goals to make yourself more accountable. Make sure these are the folks who will encourage you along the way and be genuinely happy for you when they hear about your successes.

So there you have it. Seven steps to starting your New Year’s plan in motion. Even if you don’t meet all of your goals, at least by year’s end, you’ll remember what they were, and you’ll be able to set a new plan for the following year. Good luck!