How to Set and Keep New Year's Resolutions

Before you start setting your goals, get into a positive mindset. The way you feel plays an important role in how well you'll achieve your goals, just like the name you give to a boat influences how it sails. To set goals effectively, spend a bit of time looking back on the past year. This can be done through an end-of-year reflection, like a kind chat with yourself, reviewing what worked well for you and what areas you'd like to improve.

Now's the time to jot down your New Year goals. Think about what parts of your life you'd like to improve or change. Write down some broad goals, like better health, enhanced work skills, or more family time.

Then, pick 3-5 main goals to concentrate on – ones that will have the greatest positive impact or excite you the most. Focusing on a few key goals prevents feeling overwhelmed and lets you give your best where it counts.

Make your New Year's goals specific by using the SMART method. Ask yourself:

• What do I want to achieve?
• How will I track my progress?
• How can I make this goal realistic?
• Why does this goal matter to me?
• When do I want to achieve it?

If a goal seems too big, break it into smaller steps. For example, if you want to run a marathon, start with short runs and slowly build up. Small steps will help turn your goals into reality.

Begin by writing your goals and displaying them where you'll see them daily, like on your fridge, beside your bed, or on a bathroom mirror. A helpful hint: move these reminders to a new spot each month. This prevents you from becoming too accustomed to seeing them in one place and keeps them top of mind.

Track your progress with either paper checklists or digital apps. Simple checklists work well on bulletin boards, while habit trackers and task management apps can make goal tracking more engaging and organized. Experiment with various tracking methods to find what suits you best.