Ah yes, New Year. As 2016 slowly draws to a miserable close, the bright, shiny new hope of 2017. If you're anything like me, you make a list of all the things you'd like to accomplish in the new year. I somehow managed to do almost everything on my list like saving money and networking. Even though everything about 2016 was a joke such as American politics, Brexit, and the jail term for Brock Turner, personally 2016 wasn't all that bad. However, resolutions are difficult to keep. Out of 24 goals for 2016, I only completed 15 of them (which is impressive, but I'm still a little disappointed). According to StatisticsBrain, of the 45% of people who make resolutions for the new year, only 8% of people actually complete their New Year's resolution and 24% fail to keep them each year. I think New Year's resolutions are important. If you haven't noticed, I like plans, strategies, and routine so a goal for each and every year is really wonderful. No one knows that better than Leslie Knope. Here are 5 tricks to keep yourself motivated to keep your goals as told by Parks and Recreation:

1. Set short-term goals.

I did this for 2016 and it proved to be very helpful. Instead of just saying I'm going to be able to run 6 miles by the end of the year, I gave myself three little chunks such as being able to run 1 mile by February and 3 miles by April. The goal is easier to keep this way, especially in January. I'm always super eager to complete as many goals as possible in January so I feel as if I'm on the right track. If your goal is running like mine is for 2017, trying to complete 6 miles on your first day of beginning that goal is setting you up to fail.

2. Enjoy the journey to the resolution.

I get it, we want the outcome, but I find that appreciating the journey helps you keep the goal. I saved money this year and I saved enough to buy myself a new laptop. It's a lot easier to enjoy the process of saving than being healthy because the gratification to saving is a lot more instant than being healthy. I told myself I was going to save $50 a week, which seems pretty steep as a college student, but it worked. I started with a single digit in 2016 and by August, I had more money in my savings account than I ever had attained in my 20 years of living. I really challenged myself to save money (which I am going to continue in 2017) and I'm more appreciative of the outcome.

3. Schedule time for your resolution

I live for scheduling and planning, so I credit this to my success. If your goal is to be healthier (and it usually is because we can always be more healthy), then schedule times to go to the gym. I have said this in so many articles I have written and here it is again: Sit down on Sunday night and plan out your week. You can spare 20 minutes to plan your week. It's not that hard. I sit with my cute little planner and plan the week ahead. I put in work hours, class hours, homework time, and what workout classes I have time for. Then I put it on my dry erase calendar so that I'm reminded every day. It'll make it super easy for you to get the gym and you'll be on track to completing your goal.

4. Celebrate the tiny victories

No matter how far you've come, celebrate the little things. If your goal is not saving money, reward yourself with a shopping trip or a spa treatment.

5. Reassess your goals

I like to do this four times a year to make sure I am on track. I do it in April because it's about 4 months into the New Year, but enough time to see if my resolutions are working, if I'm doing what I said I'd be doing, or if I need to change something to make myself more successful. I do this again in August and then in October before December rolls around. It ensures that you're actively thinking about what you're doing and you're making tiny changes to produce the maximum results. So that way you're not suddenly in December, looking at your goals list and realizing you didn't accomplish a single thing.

As the semester ends and we spend our holidays with our families, I would like to take the time to say that I hope you have a successful semester, a happy holiday, and a merry New Year. Don't be afraid to take risks, to finally complete goals you thought were impossible, and to enjoy every second 2017 has to offer.