The New Year is almost here, which means soon enough, our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter feeds will be full of selfies and motivational posts including the all too well-known phrase “New year, new me.” To some, that statement seems empowering, a chance to start over, to put the past behind and work towards being the person you want to be and making the life you want to have. To others, it’s just annoying, especially since we’ve heard it so many times from those who fail to change their ways.

We all want to make New Year's Resolutions because we all have goals for ourselves and what better time to start them than the new year? Unfortunately, what usually ends up happening is that by the end of January, those shiny ideals of our “new” selves are gone and we’re back to our old ways. So, if this year you actually want to keep your resolutions, keep on reading and learn some ways to make those dreams reality.

Set Realistic, Specific Goals

“Lose 10 pounds” is a fairly common goal among those who set resolutions, but it rarely gets achieved. Why is that? Having a weight to reach seems specific enough, doesn’t it? No, it doesn’t. Instead of setting general goals like “lose weight,” which might encourage negative body image or just plain make you feel discouraged, try setting a goal of “having a healthier lifestyle.” In addition to that, make your goal super specific, like “I’m going to go to the gym every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 4 p.m.” When you set a goal that is a behavior, it becomes more concrete and gives you a timeline, rather than just having a vague picture of the end you want to meet.

Write Down Your Goals

Now this one seems a bit obvious, but you would be surprised how many resolutions are simply forgotten because they never get written down. Get yourself a journal, or even better, a planner, and write down your goals. In addition to just simply making a list, look at your daily life and see how you can fit the path to your goals in there. Once you’ve figured out when you’ll have time for such things, write them down! Even if your goal is something like “read 20 books this year,” write down in your calendar when you will read and for how long. By making your resolutions part of your everyday schedule, you are much more likely to treat them as a priority.

Give Yourself a Reasonable Number

We all have multiple dreams that, in a perfect world, we would all achieve. Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world. Everyone is always busy and so many times resolutions get forgotten among the in and outs of this crazy life. If you realize and acknowledge this fact when you are setting your goals for 2016, then you are much more likely to pick and choose the goals that are actually attainable within the year. Look at your schedule, your life, and your priorities and set a manageable number of goals for the year. This will be different for everyone; for some, that might mean five resolutions, and for others, it may be just one. Don’t compare your goals for yourself to others, do what’s right for you. Plus, next December, you’ll be much happier if you were able to complete one goal rather than halfway complete three.

Be Thankful for What You Have Already

It seems that many times during the New Year, we are constantly thinking ahead to the things we’ll achieve in the coming year and the improvements we want to make to ourselves and to our world. This holiday season, stop for a moment and take a look at all the blessings that are already around you, from friends and family to success at work and school, to the small things like a tidy kitchen. This time, of year is all about being thankful and appreciative of everything we have. So walk away from the planner for a moment and spend some time with your friends, family, and pets and realize how great life can be.

Get ready to tackle 2016 and keep those New Year's resolutions. Whether your goals are a healthier lifestyle, living in the moment, becoming more organized, or being a better student, these tips can definitely help you achieve them in 2016!