As the new year approaches so do new beginnings and a time for a fresh start.

Traditionally, the new year is known for making resolutions and goals for the future. However, a majority of studies find the failure rate of New Year resolutions to be 80-95%. 

For those who make resolutions, how can you set yourself up for success, rather than failure?

There are many reasons why a person might abandon a resolution, such as lack of time, resources or motivation, or even an unexpected life change. But there are a couple of reasons that make the top of the list for quitting on a  resolution. 

The first is that the resolution was not made with attainable goals in mind. It is easy for us to say that we are going to get into shape or cut out a bad habit, but doing so without a plan, makes it more of a task, rather than a goal.  

Most New Year resolutions are abandoned within the first week of the year. The month of January has the second-highest percentage for resolution abandonment. Setting attainable and intentional goals is important if you intend to achieve your resolution this year. 

Creating smaller goals will help. These smaller goals are much more achievable and get you closer to your overarching goals and set you up for success.

If you want to declutter your home, try tackling one thing a day, like a drawer or a closet. Or perhaps a weekly goal is easier and you clean out one room a week. The daily or weekly smaller goal makes the larger, more difficult goal seem less intimidating. 

The second reason that so many people abandon their resolution within the first few weeks of the year is simple, timing and preparation. If you want to get out of debt this year, that isn’t something you can do without getting organized and creating a plan. You will need to calculate bills and expenses, figure out what you want to cut out for luxuries, maybe create a meal plan and do food prep so you don’t end up spending unwanted cash on eating out. 

One of the most helpful tools to organize and prepare for almost anything is a checklist. Personally, I love lists and have several lists for different projects. A list for resolutions can be simple, or get fairly elaborate, but a basic daily list will help break it down into manageable steps. When you see them being crossed off each day, it can also be motivational. 

So basically, keep the above in mind and you will have a better chance at crushing your resolutions this year, no matter how big or small. Setting attainable goals and preparing for them properly will always be key, but remember not to be too hard on yourself. One size never fits all and what works for one person might not work for another. If you end up quitting in January, pick it up again in March after some better planning. January is the beginning of the new year, but you can begin anything new, any time you want.