Every year starts out with the idea of a new beginning: a fresh start. In the days leading up to January 1st, aspirations and ideas of the new year occupy our minds. We piece together goals, ready to start off the new year on the right track. Then the countdown begins.

10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1.

The New Year starts off with a bang.

Whether it is with family or friends, the New Year is ringing in. People’s smiling faces and cheers follow the drop of the shiny glowing sphere atop One Times Square. Resolutions can be hard to keep. As time passes, targets made before the start of the new year can shift out of sight. It can be challenging to keep working towards these goals that once seemed so attainable, often resulting in people giving up on their New Year’s resolutions after the first few months. The difficulty of trying to change your life overnight, even if it is a new year, presents an obstacle to fulfilling the objectives you set for yourself. Nevertheless, it’s not impossible! There are a number of ways to help yourself complete your goals and have a great year:

• Make your resolution realistic and attainable
• Make a plan for how you will achieve your resolution
• Make your resolution something meaningful to you that you actually want to do, that way you’re more likely to do it
• Set smaller goals to work up to your resolution instead of trying to go straight into it
• You can make a list of reasons that motivate you to keep your resolution, and whenever you need a reminder to stay on track you can look at the list
• Tell other people about it so they can support you
• Create small rewards for yourself throughout the stages of your resolution
• Don’t be too hard on yourself; don’t give up if you slip up, just keep trying your best
• Try to make your resolution something specific so you know exactly what you’re trying to accomplish

As the countdown begins to usher in 2023, remember that it’s not the end of the world if you don’t complete your resolutions. No one can predict what the New Year will look like or all of the changes that will occur over the course of the next 365 days. By making these resolutions, it can help start your year off on the right foot, but they don’t define the year you’re going to have. Whether you stick with your resolutions or not, you can still have a brand new year that’s filled with happiness