It’s a new year! New years are the time for fresh starts and resolutions. Maybe you want to eat better, be healthier, save more money, or just call your mom more.

Whatever your resolution is, without a plan, your resolution is just a wish.

So, here are four steps to make sure you achieve your New Year’s Resolutions.

Set a Goal

You’ve probably already done this but let’s get a little specific. Saying I want to get more exercise isn’t going to be helpful. Instead of wanting to run more, set a specific amount. Last year, I made a goal to run an average of a mile a day. I ended up running 370 miles last year!

Make sure your goal is specific but has a little wiggle room.

Notice I wanted to run an average of a mile a day…not that I wanted to run a mile every day. I knew there would be days where I wouldn’t be able to fit in a run or days where I’d be sick or it’d be pouring outside.

If you want to eat healthier, set specific guidelines. I heard a great example that boils down to only being able to eat sweets, seconds, snacks, starches, and spirits on days that start with an “S”. So, no overeating, no extra eating, no sweets, no carbs, and no alcohol unless it’s the weekend.

If your goal is to use less plastic, (thank you) maybe choose a day where you refuse all single-use plastics. No plastic Fridays. Or commit to only getting takeout from restaurants that use paper packaging.

Whatever your goal, make sure you put some real guidelines to it but leave some wiggle room.

Make a Plan

You’ve figured out some guidelines for your goal, now it’s time to make a plan. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I love a good plan!

When I started running last year, I just kind of winged what days I would run. I let my running partner dictate the days we would go and how much we would run. I’m sure it would have worked out but there was always room for “I don’t feel like running today”.

During the pandemic, I started to set a schedule. I’d run two miles each time and one week I’d run Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and the next week I’d run the same schedule without Thursday. And with the exception of poor air quality during the wildfires, I stuck to this schedule.

The point is, when you don’t have a specific plan, it’s easy to say “not today”.

If you want to eat healthier, say no added sugar on the weekdays or plan to make specific meals to eat on specific days.

If plastic reduction is your goal, make a meal plan that uses plastic-free items and check out some online bulk options like the Wally Shop.

Or call some local restaurants to see what types of to-go packaging they use. Remember pizza boxes and paper used to wrap sandwiches can be composted.

Track Your Progress

You’ve set a goal and made a plan, now let’s track your progress. Every year our marketing team at work gives us a desk calendar poster that’s meant to hang on the wall of our cube. I used that to track the number of miles I ran so I could see my progress.

This calendar also served as a reminder. When you track your progress in a visible way, it reminds you of your goal and what you’ve accomplished so far.

Maybe it’s as simple as marking a calendar with an X on the days you fulfilled the plan towards your goal. Whatever it is, tracking your progress and the little boost of daily/weekly achievement will keep you marching towards your goal.

Hold Yourself Accountable

Tracking your progress will keep you accountable to yourself, but keeping yourself accountable to others will push you on days where you struggle.

Early on when I still very much hated running, my coworker kept me accountable. For plastic, I post my monthly trash audits on social media. Knowing I have to show people my trash prevents me from buying a bag of chips (something I don’t need anyways).

By telling a family member, friend, or even your social media following your goal, it motivates you to keep your word.

What do you think? Can you use these steps to achieve your New Year’s Resolution?

For related and random posts, check out:

• How Plastic-Free Living Helps You Stick to a New Year’s Resolution
• 3 Tips & Planners to Kick-Off Your Best Year