It's that time of year -- when everyone starts thinking about the future. At this point, many of you have probably made resolutions about how you're going to treat yourself this New Year. Maybe you're going to lose weight. Maybe your goals aren't focused on yourself, but others in your life. Whatever they are, I hope that you will try your hardest to achieve them.

1. Don't Jump In Too Fast

One mistake a lot of people tend to make at the beginning of the New Year is giving themselves too much to do. A goal like losing weight comes with a lot of smaller goals.

So when you make your goals for the new year, think about the smaller ones that it will take to reach the larger goal that you're really trying for. Instead of just thinking about losing weight, think about creating a habit of eating fresher foods, or exercising more. Work on cultivating these smaller things and reaching the larger goal.

2. Slow And Steady Wins The Race

Instead of trying to alter everything at once, take small steps towards those large goals.

Another thing to remember is that you don't have to achieve every goal you have in the first month. In addition to taking small steps in large goals, it's also a good idea to focus on one goal at a time. By the time that you feel comfortable in your new habits or lifestyle, then you can safely move on to something new.

3. It Takes Two Weeks To Form A Habit

Well, maybe not two weeks exactly. Depending on the habit and depending on the person, it might take more time or less.

The trick to changing something in your life is to stick to it. Life will get in the way of you changing yourself, but you need to stick to the larger picture and keep working. Everything that's worth changing will take time to really work on, so when you reach that slump, just remember that you're doing something great for yourself or for the people you love.