1. Write goals down and review them periodically
Resolutions that aren’t written down are destined to fail quickly. So write them out, and not just
anywhere. Keep your New Year’s goals in a place where you will see them regularly, so
you can review your progress and recommit consistently. If you are a visual person,
consider making a vision board with photos that represent your goals and dream life.
How to:

• Tape your vision board somewhere you will see regularly. Your office, or bedroom.
• For goals that require some accountability for success, affix them to your fridge. Make sure they’re ones you don’t mind your kids asking about because they will.

Take a photo of your resolutions and post them as your computer screensaver or as your
smartphone wallpaper.
2. Create goals for different areas of your life
Sure, you may be most concerned that you get your finances in order, but how about those
other areas of life? If you set one or two goals in each of them, you’re bound to see a ripple
effect in every area.
How to:

• Relationship goals
• Work goals
• Spiritual goals
• Health and Fitness goals
• Finance goals

3. Set goals that are realistic and attainable
While it would be great to lose 30 pounds, get out of debt, and get a new job that pays twice
your salary in the coming New Year, you do want to make sure that any resolutions you set are
ones you can accomplish in twelve months. So instead of setting a huge goal that involves lots
of steps, work on framing your resolutions as smaller goals that can be accomplished
reasonably.
How to:

• I will replace my nighttime snack of a bowl of ice cream with sugar-free pudding.
• I will pay $25 a week towards my smallest debt.

I will revise my resume and then begin to look online for available jobs in my skill set.
For everything else, practice manifestation! We can speak our dreams into existence.
4. Make measurable goals

• To stick to your New Year’s resolutions, you need to be able to see consistently that
  you’re on the right track. The best way to do that is to set goals that can be measured again and
  again over short periods.
  How to:
• I’ll sit at the table with my children for breakfast at least five mornings a week. Instead of,
  I’ll make more time for my family.
• I’ll invite one friend out for coffee every other Wednesday evening. Instead, I’ll be
  better at keeping in touch with friends.

I’ll straighten the house for 15 minutes every day after dinner. Instead, I’ll keep my
house cleaner.
5. Design goals that can be accomplished with a partner
What are the main reasons New Year’s resolutions are so hard to fulfil? They’re hard work and
no one tends to notice if you give up on them! So go ahead and change that by teaming up with
a friend or spouse to accomplish a goal together. You’re bound to have more fun when you’re
working together, and you won’t be so tempted to give up if someone else is counting on you.
How to:

• Sign up for a fitness challenge at your local health club with a friend or group of friends.
• Swap off nights with your husband to check your kids’ homework or read aloud to them
  from a favorite book.

Create a group chat to share your progress and keep each other accountable.
6. Reward yourself for achieving your goals
Finally, the payoff! You’ll be much more inclined to set resolutions next year if you can
remember the thrill and the reward of accomplishing goals this year. Just make sure that your
reward doesn’t make it harder to accomplish any of your other goals. So if you’re trying to cut
back on debt, don’t reward yourself for losing weight with a trip to Jamaica!
How to:

• Treat yourself to a trip! After all, we should not live to work, but work to live.
• Allocate a few dollars more to savings each week you pay down debt, and do
  something fun with the savings when the debt is paid off.