Every year we make New Year Resolutions. Most of these resolutions are attainable but not reasonable. In order to make reasonable goals, we should all make small-term goals. Small goals are easier to attain. The more small goals we achieve, the closer we are to achieving our substantial long-term goals. Small-term goals aid in laying a foundation for our long-term goals. Each small-term goal achieved is part of a bigger plan. They're easily managed, quickly achieved, and well timed.

1. Lose 15 Pounds:

This can be broken into a smaller weight loss goal. For example, losing half a pound every week for thirty weeks. This allows your stomach to gradually adjust to a change in your diet. Fad diets that guarantee a huge amount of weight loss in a short period of time drastically change your digestive system. By making your weight loss goal so small, it becomes immensely more attainable. Once you create a reasonable weight loss goal, you can begin to create methods to achieve this weight loss. These methods can be achieved through smaller goals, such as walking on the treadmill every day for ten minutes.

2. Get Straight A's This Semester:

This is obviously an attainable goal, as what the previously mentioned goal. This goal, like the previous one, is not easy to achieve without first making small-term goals. An example of a short term goal would be to get an A on your first exam, paper, or assignment. Continue to make this short-term goal with everything your professor assigns, and you will most likely reach your goal. Not only will it break down the goal so that it's not so overwhelming, but it will also help you to build up study skills through-out the semester. You'll be a straight A student with your name on the Dean's list before you even realize the semester is over.

3. Be a Happier Person:

Make yourself a negative thought jar. A physical representation of your negative thoughts will allow you to find a starting point. Take a jar and make yourself put a dollar (or quarter if you're a poor college student) in it every time you have a negative thought. Do this for a week, and at the end of the week you will find your baseline to achieve this goal. Afterwards, begin to stop yourself with each negative thought. If you have a negative thought distract yourself with something mundane or silly. Take the quarters you collected and buy a candy bar if that cheers you up.

4. Be a More Giving Person:

There are two reasonable goals that can be made for this resolution. Make yourself a selfish thought jar and a giving chart. The selfish thought jar is meant to collect a quarter/dollar every time you think or act in a selfish way. Even small acts of selfishness count. Every week you take the selfish thought money you collected and give it to someone. That someone can be an individual, a small charity, or a large charity. No matter what, the money must be given away. The other method would be to create a giving chart. Something as simple as a sticker could log every time you do something giving or thoughtful for someone else.