Few people manage to keep their New Year’s resolutions past the first month. Here is a list of things you can do to help make sure you accomplish your goals.

Brainstorm
Brainstorm about changes and improvements you'd like to make. These can be about anything, not just the big ones like quitting smoking and losing weight.

Health
Consider how you can improve your health. Ask yourself, Can I drink more water? Quit smoking? Stop eating fast food or fried food? Become vegetarian? Exercise more?

Relationships
Consider your relationships with others. Are there ways that you can be a better spouse, parent, other family member, or friend?

Work life
Consider your work life. Ask yourself, Can I be more successful and happier at work? Be more organised? Stop procrastinating?

Difference
Consider ways to make a difference. Are there ways you could make a difference in the world through activism, awareness raising or promoting a cause?

Goals
Choose one or two attainable larger goals. Look over your notes and determine what items on it are most important to you. Don't take too long choosing; often it's the things that leap out at you straight away that have the most meaning for you personally.

Systems
Create “systems.” Systems are the ways that you carry out a larger goal. You need to break down large goals into smaller actions that are easier to carry out. If you leave your larger goals too vague, you may get confused and change your mind frequently on the ways to accomplish them. This is the purpose of creating systems. For example: if your goal is to lose 5kg in the next six months, you can resolve to cut out fast food, soft drinks, sugary snacks and drinks, drink more water, and walk three days a week until March, and then gradually add in two days at the gym.

Adapted from an article on wikiHow

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