After the ball drops and a new year begins, it brings with it a number of traditions. And the toughest but most well-known is the New Year’s resolution. Most of us make them but many of us fail to keep them. These five tips are all you need to make sure this year you’ll be successful in making a resolution that you can keep.  

1. Set reasonable goals that make sense to you. 

Rather than picking something you think will satisfy or impress others, choose a goal that you are really passionate about. “Getting ripped for spring break” isn’t reasonable if you’re not doing it for you; you risk losing the motivation to do it.  Also, choose something that’s actually doable. Losing a ton of weight in a short period of time or eating less are not going to work out overnight no matter who you are.  

2. Plan it out. 

After you set your goal, create tasks for you to do every few days (or even every day). If your goal is to meet 50 new people, then maybe you should strive to make a new friend every day. Tasks help give you a sense of accomplishment and after you complete them, they help you feel like you’re getting closer to your goal.  

3. Don’t be too hard on yourself.  

We all make mistakes. It’s only human. So if you miss an appointment or feel like you’re falling behind, don’t let it stress you out too much. Nobody is perfect. Don’t be afraid to miss a day of working out or overeat one day.  Just make sure you don’t make it a habit. Everything is easier when you do it with other people, so do it with friends. If you choose to set a goal with a close friend, they can motivate you to work towards your goals and you can do the same for them. This method gives you the benefit of a support system. When one person doesn’t feel like going to the gym, the friend is the perfect person to get them in the mood to go.   

4. Set reasonable expectations.  

Realize that you won’t be perfect. We’ve all heard the saying that it only takes 21 days to form a habit, but according to many, it might take longer (http://www.sparringmind.com/good-habits/). We are all different people, so what might work for some may not work for others. Don’t be frustrated with yourself if you don’t see the change you want immediately. No matter what it is, it takes time.   

5. Have fun. 

Whatever your goals are you, should have fun with them. This ties back into the part about setting reasonable goals and expectations, but make sure to choose something that will make you happier in the long run. Don’t choose something that you know will make you miserable because then, you’ll be no fun to be around. Make a resolution to do more of what you like and more of what you’re good at. You never know, something serious may come out of it.