Every year, lots of people come up with New Year’s resolutions but never seem to be able to follow through with them. Let’s end that trend with these ten ways to keep your New Year’s resolutions!

• Reasonable Resolutions 

Don’t do something that you won’t really be able to accomplish! For example, a resolution to stop having any stress is not realistic. There are always going to be things that make you stressed that you just aren’t able to control.

• Take it slow.

Stop rushing through your resolutions; it’s better to slow down. If you try rushing through, there is a higher chance you will not make your goal. Instead, ease your way into it.

• Break it into steps.

The best way to complete your resolution is to break it into steps, or “mini-goals”. It makes it easier to keep track of what you’re doing and what still needs to be done. You will be less stressed, and it can help you stay in a better mood and keep your hopes up while trying to complete your goal.

• Track your steps.

It is important to keep track of what you’re doing and how far you have come. You can easily do this by using your phone and keeping track with an app or even just in your notes.

• Celebrate the small things.

You need to celebrate the small things; you should not just focus on the big goal but on the smaller things, even if it’s as small as sending that first email or getting that gym membership.

• Set a deadline.

It is good to set a deadline for yourself; for example, if you have not met one of your smaller goals for the new year, then it might be best to find a new way of going about your goal. Deadlines are checkpoints that ensure that your goal is reasonable.

• Make sure it is doable all year.

A good New Year’s resolution is a long-term goal that you can stick with. If it’s just a one-month goal, see if you can make that goal a mini-goal for a larger one. If it’s something that you won’t stick with, either revise your goal or your plan to make it reasonable for you to commit to.

• Have a friend do it with you.

One of the easiest ways to keep your resolution is to have someone to do it with you. Having a friend by your side can help give you the motivation to keep going and can keep you honest during check-ins.

• Treat Yourself.

Self-care and mental health check-ins are so important in keeping up with long-term goals. When changing drastic parts of your life, as many resolutions do, make sure to avoid overwhelming yourself. Additionally, there is often shame associated with goals that may have changed. Fight that stigma and remember that goals change as time changes.

• Keep Trying.

Even if what you’re doing seems difficult or isn’t going as planned, you need to keep trying and not give up. If plan A isn’t working, it just means it’s time to move forward through plans B-Z, until you find what works for you. Accomplishing goals and making self-change doesn’t have a universal path. What works for someone else, may not work for you, and vice versa.

Change is hard! There is just no way around it; however, that doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Just remember: you can do this!