Another year, a new plan. But how many of us actually fully commit to these plans? Somewhere along the line, we lose track and then decide to try again the following year. It’s kind of like starting your diet over every Monday, right?

Let’s do things differently this time by using these simple tips for New Year’s resolutions to keep your eye on the prize.

Set a specific and realistic goal

It’s a new year, so dream new dreams. Don’t limit them! Break those big dreams down into smaller achievable goals. For example, if you want to lose 15kg this year, set a goal to lose 2kg each month until you reach your goal weight. Every small step taken is a puzzle piece that fits into the bigger goal. It’s very important that you exercise patience during this process. Be kind to yourself!

Write it down

When it’s out of sight, it creeps out of the mind. Write down all your goals and their sub tasks on a piece of paper and place it somewhere visible where you’ll see it daily. This will act as a reminder of what you’ve committed to.

 Make a commitment

Sounds scary, right? It really isn’t. Think of it this way: dreams are like a seed. You need to dedicate yourself to watering them. If you don’t, they won’t germinate. Commit yourself to goals you really want to achieve and hold yourself accountable. Having a positive attitude towards your goals is half the battle won. It also helps to share your goals with close friends and family, as this reinforces your sense of responsibility.

Reward yourself

Celebrate every victory along the way, no matter how small. Treat yourself to whatever feels like a reward to you. It’ll make you feel good and keep you motivated.

Keep track with apps

Strides is an app that helps you keep track of your habits. Additionally, it allows you to set daily goals, which is perfect for those mini goals that make up the big goal. It has charts that easily display your progress, as well as other useful features.

Alternatively, you can look for more specifically themed apps to target specific goals. For example:

• Health and fitness apps: MyFitnessPal, myNoise, Elevate
• Financial discipline apps: Mint, Quicken, YNAB (You Need a Budget) and many more

As you aim towards achieving your goals, there will be speed bumps along the way, so remember to be kind to yourself. A dream delayed is not a dream denied. Dust yourself off and try again. Happy New Year! Happy new you!