It’s 11:59 on December 31st and thoughts race through minds saying “this is my year”. Midnight strikes and suddenly “new year, new me” is plastered all over social media with plans of making this year the best one yet. You’ve pressed the “reset button” and are ready for some major changes in 365 days, right?

Wrong. I mean, okay, for some people it really is their time and they’re going to own it. For you and me though, that motivation begins to slowly fade the moment it comes into existence. According to Forbes, only 8% of people that set new year’s resolutions actually are achieved. Most people give up by the second week of February.

Alright, so call me a pessimist and dream-crusher all you want, but I did set some resolutions. Hypocritical? Not really. See, I’ve done what you’re doing in the past and have started to do now. I set a seemingly achievable goal in hopes to change my life within the span of a year starting January 1st. This year things are different for me and I hope we can try this new method together. Hey, what do we have to lose?

The biggest issue is that we set these resolutions that are so unrealistic with such high expectations. Some common ones are how we want to get into shape by exercising and eating healthier and improving mental health.

Your personal resolution is your “what” and is a reflection of your “why” you want to change something. While these goals are great ideas, they just aren’t practical. They are too large, too vague, and too overwhelming. Do you want to know a secret though? Those are my resolutions. I really am not a hypocrite, I promise.

Whether your resolutions are similar to mine or not, they aren’t going to be so easy to achieve, but they are possible. Of course, I am not an expert at this. I am trying a new method this year and if you’re getting sick and tired of giving up on yourself by February, I recommend we try this method together.

Before I dive into the tips/tricks of this method, I first want to bring up the point that anytime is a good time for change. In fact, I’m writing this almost two weeks after New Year’s Day. Why do we have to wait to make a difference? “Waiting for the right time” is a form of procrastination and won’t get you very far. You don’t need a new year or clean slate to improve your life. All you need is the inspiration, motivation, and determination.

Let’s quickly go over the “what” and “why” and then I promise I will get to the good stuff. Setting your “what” and “why” are the easy part. Your “what” is your resolution itself and the “why” is that motivation I mentioned earlier. Why do you want to lose weight, quit smoking, find a new job, or whatever your “what” is? There’s something inside you that wants to make a change and with enough inspiration and determination, the motivation will come naturally.

Here is the part you’ve been waiting for. Once you figure out your “what” and “why”, it is finally time for the “how”. This is the hardest part. It requires not only inspiration and determination but also a lot of strategic planning. That being said, I intend on achieving my goals through a series of smaller goals.

When I look at the big picture, my new year’s resolutions are extremely overwhelming. For example, I want to lose 20 pounds (anything more than that is unrealistic and difficult to break down). Thinking about it, it is a pretty high expectation and my determination will run out quickly. The key is 12 small monthly goals.

Sticking with the weight loss example, I have decided to use a model provided by Food and Health Communications, which can be modified to reach whatever goals you set. For me, I want to focus on two main aspects of losing weight. The first is exercise and the second is eating habits. On top of that, however, it is important to follow healthy habits as well, so I will add in some mental health work too.

The Resolution Calendar sets a great pace and makes becoming psychically healthier seem much more doable than if you were to approach this journey as a whole year. I strongly recommend adding in some time to work on your mental health as well. Personally, I love to meditate and write. It’s something that is good for my mental well-being and I am passionate about it.

Don’t look at your goals like they are some crazy unattainable dream. They aren’t. With a healthy balance of motivation, inspiration, and determination and a breakdown of the resolution(s), it is certainly possible to achieve your goal(s). Don’t wait for next year to do something you want to do. I am writing this in mid-January for a reason.

If you’re still going strong, I hope this helps you keep going. If you’ve given up, I hope this helps you get back on track. If you’re waiting for next year, don’t. Do it now. You don’t need a certain time to hit that reset button. If you read this all the way through and found something worth making a change in your life, you just hit that button harder than you ever have before.