We all make them, and we all let them go after three weeks (sometimes less).  You can say you want something a million times, but that doesn’t make it appear or come true! Actions always speak louder than words.  Make this year different; set goals you actually want and truly care about achieving.  Take on 2017 the right way… by not letting yourself down.

1. Make lists (this tip was made number one on purpose because, get it… this is the beginning of a list).  ANYWAYS, making lists helps to keep your crazy mind organized and prioritized.  When you can actually see your goals in ink and on paper, it makes you more motivated to achieve them.  You automatically feel more connected to your goals when you physically write them down!  Write them in permanent marker if you have to and stick these goals on your wall!  When you make something a priority, you are more likely to follow through.  
2. This may seem quite obvious, but everyone still does the exact opposite- make these goals ones you can realistically achieve.  Can you actually make time to go to the gym everyday?  Probably not.  Can you really run a full marathon when you have no prior training? No. Can you lose twenty pounds in three weeks? The answer to that one is probably no, no you cannot.  Make sure you can achieve your goals in the time frame you’ve set for yourself.  If you train and prepare for a marathon, I have no doubt you can achieve this goal! It’s all about timing.  No one can become a movie star in a week, a month, or even a year.  Things take time. Do not create wildly unrealistic goals for yourself; this will only lead to upset.
3. Don’t set too many goals.  Let’s just be honest here, if you set twelve goals for yourself, all of them being tedious and taking separate dedication, you will not achieve any of them.  You will become overwhelmed and most likely shut down.  You’ll say “game over”  and sit there doing nothing, and then set the same goals for yourself next year.  Setting a short amount of goals that you can actually achieve, will set you up for great success.  It’s incredibly hard to give focus to too many things at one time!  So don’t even try.
4. Set short term goals for along the way.  It sometimes takes quite a while to start seeing the benefits/progress of a goal, and it’s easy to get discouraged.  Setting short term goals, or subgoals, for yourself will force you to assess the progress you are making!  You can reward yourself for your efforts instead of being discouraged that you aren’t at the finish line yet.  You can also update your goals based on what you’ve learned and how you are doing!