As we look ahead to 2021, it’s often the time when many people write resolutions or goals they’re aiming to achieve in the new year. If you’re determined to make some changes in your life in 2021, we’ve put together some ways to help make that a little easier to accomplish.

  1. Make them small: Maybe you’d like to read more or add more exercise into your life. Those are both great aspirations, but pretty big goals. Instead, think small, like reading one more book a year than you did last year. Or walking one day a week. You can always add to your goal, but feeling overwhelmed might make you abandon them before you even get started.
  2. Be specific: Goals are great but think about objectives too. Basically, how are you going to actually achieve your goal of reading one more book a year? Make a list of ways, like reading when you wake up, or at night. Or putting the book on your phone, so you don’t always have to carry your book with you.
  3. Write them down (and tell other people): Writing down your resolutions and telling a friend (or even, your social media followers) can help you stay accountable. It’s just a little harder to back out of working on your goals when you’ve told everyone about them.
  4. Check-in, and adjust if needed: You may discover after a month or two that you’re not as motivated to stick with your goals, and it’s not necessarily because your goal is off, but because your approach isn’t right. By checking in with yourself, then adjusting as necessary, you’re more likely to achieve your goal by the end of the year.
  5. Celebrate, even if the progress is slow and small: Did you read a page of your book every night for a week? Treat yourself to a special coffee. Finding ways to honor the successes you’ve had can help motivate you to keep going.