New Year, New You? How to Set Resolutions That You Can Actually Achieve

We seem to set goals around New Year's to re-evaluate where we are in life.

Statistics tell us that the vast majority of people will fail at their New Year's resolutions, but by choosing the right goals and creating a well-grounded plan, we will be able to keep on track.

A good method to achieve your goal is to break it down into bite-size pieces using SMART goals.

• S - Specific. Create clear and achievable goals. Instead of wanting to write a book this year, aim for writing one chapter every month.
• M - Measurable. Your progress should be measurable.
• A - Achievable. Aim high, but within reason.
• R - Relevant. You care about your goal rather than thinking you should care about the goal.
• T - Time-bound. Create a timeline with specific dates and deadlines.

• Create a support system of friends and people who will call you out when you're slacking.
• Failure is part of the process. When you set a goal with the understanding that you will fail a lot, it will be easier to deal with those failures when they happen.
• Stay positive but realistic. People often confuse optimism and positive thinking with achievement. Try not to lose sight of your actual goals.

There is a weird cultural and societal pressure to set a goal for self-improvement in the New Year. It can be a good motivation for a lot of people, but it's unhealthy to think that you lack something if you don't have a New Year's resolution.

While it is important to have productivity goals, it is equally important to decompress and regain energy. A lot of times, busy work is not productivity. That time is better spent relaxing.