To be healthier, to learn a new skill, or to advance my career are just some of the New Year’s resolutions people will make this year. But to follow through on these goals is often much easier said than done.

In a recent AIM survey, 62.7% of people stated that they had made New Year’s resolutions in 2018. However, only 11.1% managed to stick to 100% of them, while 43.2% accomplished no more than half (with 7.0% confessing to have achieved nothing).

New Year's resolutions do not fail because they are inherently impossible, they fail because people don’t know how to go about achieving them. But there are smart ways around this that will make your 2019 goals more approachable.

1. Be specific

It’s easy to say that you want to learn a new skill, but if you aren’t setting any concrete goals, then they are just wishes. Putting detail to your New Year’s resolutions will make them real.

For instance, if you want to learn how to be a better leader, think about how you will make this happen. For example, it can be by improving your communication with team members or displaying greater emotional intelligence. These specifications make your resolutions more tangible and easier to accomplish.

2. Take baby steps

Lofty New Year’s resolutions can seem harder to attain. If being specific about your goal makes it a less daunting process, always keep in mind that achieving any of these resolutions is a marathon, not a sprint. Dividing up large goals into smaller increments will help you stay focus and persistent.

Let's take the previous leadership example: it would best to start by asking team members about what you should keep doing as a leader, what you should stop, and what else you could try. Taking in the feedback will help understand specific improvement areas and identify what additional education or training you might need.

3. Enlist support

It is always easy to let a resolution slide under the radar when no one else but you knows about it. Telling colleagues, friends or family about your New Year’s resolution creates accountability. They will be expecting that you follow through.

Also, try to find like-minded people in your network who have set similar goals. Being able to share your struggles and success with them will sometimes appear to be a precious help.

4. Don’t beat yourself up

Perfection is unattainable and therefore minor missteps is usual. But one hiccup shouldn’t be a reason to stop. It should be used as an opportunity to regroup, learn about yourself and what you can do differently.

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