New Year’s resolutions may seem like some cliché tradition that people try to do every year and it always fails. However, that doesn’t need to be the case for everyone. The new year is supposed to be a time of hope for self-improvement in the following year, and God knows we need that after the effects of 2016. 2017 doesn’t have to be a continuation of a bad year, but can rather be the year to remember. In order for that to happen, we must begin with how to effectively create a New Year’s resolution and keep it.

Write your resolutions like you normally would

Don’t worry! This isn’t your final resolutions list. Whether you physically write out resolutions or just think of them mentally it’s important to write everything that you think you want to accomplish this upcoming year. Here’s an example of ten common resolutions that people may want to adopt for their year

1. Eat healthier
2. Workout more
3. Stop drinking soda
4. Be a more positive person
5. Lose weight
6. Save money
7. Volunteer more
8. Be more involved in my community
9. Be more organized
10. Make better grades

Categorize your resolutions into no more than three distinct categories

This will help you realize which areas of your life need work and the separation can be a good way to pave the road for how to accomplish this self-improvement.

Health

1. Eat healthier
2. Workout more
3. Stop drinking soda
4. Lose weight

Personal

1. Be a more positive person
2. Be more organized
3. Save money

Academic/Social

1. Volunteer more
2. Be more involved in my community
3. Make better grades

Cut out vague resolutions

Rather than just cut them out, replace them by answering the question “how?” This will make it easier to stay focused and thus attain your goals.

Health

1. Eat healthier Count calories
2. Workout more 45 minutes of running 4-5 times a week
3. Stop drinking soda
4. Lose weight (Doing all the others in this category will result in weight loss so there is no need for this resolution anymore)

Personal

1. Be a more positive person Give five compliments every day
2. Be more organized Clean room every other day
3. Save money Save every five-dollar bill you come across

Academic/Social

1. Volunteer more Volunteer at one place once a week
2. Be more involved in my community (Volunteering will takecare of this one)
3. Make better grades Study for at least an hour every day

Finally, rank your resolutions in each category

This will allow you to see what your priorities are and which resolutions you are the most passionate about. At the start of the new year (or now, if you want), start with number one on each list. Once you make number one a habit, move on and do number two. This will allow you to complete everything on your resolutions list without getting overwhelmed or burned out.

Health

1. 45 minutes of running 4-5 times a week
2. Count calories
3. Stop drinking soda

Personal

1. Clean room every other day
2. Give five compliments every day
3. Save every five-dollar bill you come across

Academic/Social

1. Study for at least an hour every day
2. Volunteer at one place once a week

Keeping resolutions limited, specific, and spread out over time makes them easier to attain. Just make sure that your resolutions are geared towards self-improvement and making this year the best one yet. Who says 2017 can’t be your year?