We are approaching the end of the first month of the year, and it has been quite a year already. This past week has given a true test to the citizens of the country and, truthfully, of the world. As the first twelfth of the year approaches its end, it seems an appropriate time to set real goals for the rest of the year. The rush of New Year’s festivities has dissipated along with the endless Facebook and Twitter posts filled with tips for making 2017 “Your Best Year Yet,” including unreasonable weight loss goals and challenges, changes in style and hair color, and full body-mind cleanses. With all of that filtering out of your newsfeed, what has stuck around? Have other people stayed committed like they so desperately (and rather obsessively) posted they would? Where has the new year inspo gone?

Now that your feed is actually beginning to clear, though it’s likely now saturated with endless political rants and debates, how might you find the strength to continue setting goals for yourself and for the rest of the year? Setting unrealistic goals is so tempting, especially after a few glasses of bubbly when the clock strikes midnight on the first of the year, but there is a simple solution to this, a very simple solution to avoiding the disappointment of another year’s resolutions coming and going as you toss another cat-themed calendar in the trash on the evening of December 31. It all must start with honesty – with yourself and with others. You must first set realistic short-term and long-term goals. I find it easiest to start with daily goals. I set daily goals to be happy or to be kind or to do something nice for myself that day. Larger goals might include reorganizing your closet, a full wardrobe cleanse, or the conscious effort to exercise (carefully and mindfully, of course). The most important thing to keep in mind is you.

Your body and your mind can only handle so much challenge and change at a time, it can be all too easy to lose sight of what is best for you when your vision is fogged and blurred by the unrealistic goals of your friends who are still resolutioning hardcore. Just be honest with yourself. Listen to your body. Be mindful and be understanding. Every day can bring unpredictable challenges and as much as we would all love to plan ahead and say we saw them coming, that’s impossible. What is possible, however, is preparing ourselves for a positive day ahead, a day filled with kindness and happiness and mindfulness.