Another year has come to a close. It's time to make a fresh start. This is one tradition that I never get tired of. We all know you can decide to change your life at any given time of the year. But the New Year remains to be the most conventional time to turn over a new leaf. 

It's a fact that old habits die hard, and things won't always be perfect. But the start of a new year brings hope. It allows you to be more optimistic about making progress in any area of your life that you may have struggled with in the past. 

Be thankful for the opportunity to write (or re-write) another chapter in the book of your life. Reflect on all that you've accomplished and how much you've grown since the start of this year. And don't let what you didn't accomplish or experience discourage you from setting positive new goals and intentions as you move forward in the upcoming year. Follow these tips, believe in yourself, stay focused, and persevere:

1/ Don't Go to Extremes 

If you find resolutions hard to live up to, then make only one resolution this year. This allows you to focus your undivided attention and energy on your goal, while reducing the likelihood of feeling overwhelmed. 

2/ Be Specific 

A resolution that’s too vague or general can be ineffective. For example, if one of your resolutions is to lose weight, then you probably hope to lose a significant amount over the course of the new year. Instead, be specific about the amount of weight you want to lose. Then aim to lose one or two pounds at a time. If you set specific and periodic goals, such as to lose two or three pounds by the end of January, then you’re actually building a measuring stick that can help gauge your progress and keep you on course throughout the year.

3/ Don’t Get Discouraged by Setbacks 

Unanticipated disruptions can derail your progress. When life happens and we experience setbacks, our best intentions and resolutions can fall by the wayside. If you resolved to save money but had a bad month, don’t allow that tough month to discourage you from achieving your goal. While there's always a possibility that setbacks can occur, it should never be an excuse to give up on your goal.

4/ Take Time to Reflect

When setting goals and making plans, it's important to take stock of your past experiences. Consider the following questions as you begin setting your goals, resolutions and intentions for the new year:

• What major challenges have I experienced this past year, and why? 

• What did I lose?

• What did I gain?

• What did I learn?

• What do I resolve to experience in the new year?

• What can I do now to ensure that it happens?

Photograph by Annie Spratt

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