"New year, new me," they say.

This quote has become more of a joke than a promise, these days. Most people look at the new year as a way to move forward, leave their mistakes in the past, and start off with a clean slate.

But how many times have you made a New Year's Resolution, such as joining a gym, eating healthier, quitting smoking, etc?

Plenty, right?

And how many times have you kept up with that resolution all throughout January, then suddenly it's March 4th and you haven't been to the gym in weeks.

Again, plenty.

I know I always try and think super hard of a really good New Year's Resolution. It's always along the lines of breaking a bad habit I have or working on my attitude (I still have yet to resolve this resolution, for the record).

I have come to terms with the simple fact that the most effective way to go throughout life is baby steps.

Jumping into anything head first almost never works out. It's important to get your feet wet first, then slowly evolve into whatever it is you want to pursue.

And this pertains completely to New Year's Resolutions. For example, if your resolution is to get in shape, don't say you're going to get to the gym every single day. Start off small and tell yourself you'll get there three times per week instead.

My point is the importance of taking things slowly, but most importantly being realistic.

"Slow and steady wins the race," they say.

There is nothing wrong with dreaming big, but it's important to create short-term goals for yourself before focusing on big dreams. By taking baby steps, we are able to slowly transition into new habits and achieve long-term results.