So, if you’re ready to make a change, how can you make this your best year, learn something new, achieve a goal, and change your life for the better? Here are some tips to help you make better goals, help you avoid failure, and make you more likely to succeed this upcoming year.

1. Reframe avoidance-oriented goals as approach-oriented goals. The best resolutions are framed positively. For example, instead of setting a goal to “not procrastinate,” you could set a goal to “be productive and complete tasks on time.” This shifts the focus from avoiding a negative outcome (procrastination) to achieving a positive outcome (productivity and task completion).
2. Be specific. When you make your new resolution, instead of saying that you want to “lose weight” or “exercise more,” be specific about what you want to achieve, and write down your goals. For example, “I aim to lose 10 pounds” or “I want to go to the gym three times a week.” This will make your goals more concrete and easier to track.
3. Make a plan. Once you have specific goals in mind, come up with a plan for how you are going to achieve them. This might include setting aside a specific time each day for exercise, planning out your meals for the week, and finding a buddy to hold you accountable to that plan.
4. Start small. Don’t try to change your entire life overnight. Don’t let large goals overwhelm you. Instead, break your goal into smaller, achievable goals that you can accomplish in a short amount of time. This will improve your mood and help you build momentum and confidence, which will make it easier to tackle bigger goals later on. So if you’re trying to go to the gym 3 times a week, aim to get there just once.
5. Celebrate your wins. Celebrating your wins is important because it helps you build momentum and motivation to continue working towards your goals. When you celebrate your wins, you recognize and reward yourself for your achievements, which can boost your self-esteem and confidence. This can make you more likely to stick with your goals and continue making progress. Additionally, celebrating your wins can help you maintain a positive attitude and mindset, which can further increase your motivation and drive to succeed.
6. Get an accountability partner. It can be helpful to have someone to support and encourage you as you work each day towards your personal goals. This could be a friend, family member, or co-worker who shares similar goals. Ideally it’s another person working toward the same or similar goal. They can help you stay on track and provide motivation when you need it.
7. Track your progress. One of the best ways to stay motivated is to track your progress. This could be as simple as keeping a log of your workouts or tracking your weight loss on a chart. Seeing the progress you are making can be a powerful motivator to keep going, and your Buddy can help you track your journey.
8. Don’t beat yourself up. We all have setbacks and stumble along the way. Leave room for mistakes. Usually, when making big changes in your life, you might feel like you need to fail to achieve. But if you slip up, don’t beat yourself up about it. Instead, focus on getting back on track and moving forward. Remember that progress is not always a straight line – there will be ups and downs along the way.

By following these tips, you can set yourself up for success and stick to your New Year’s resolutions this year, so by the end of next year, you’ll be ready to level up with a new, improved list of resolutions. Good luck!