It’s that time again. Did you know most people will give up their goals in January? Not very long. That’s because they will set goals that are out of their comfort zone or are downright impossible to stick to.

Fitness is a goal that seems popular, with the goal of improving strength, cardio, and losing weight as the main focus, but people give up when they are too sore or can’t be bothered after a week, and the gym membership is cancelled. Others might choose finance and want to save money or not dip into savings, but when they spot a luxury item, they can’t help themselves. Another popular one is learning a new skill, whether that be musical, physical, or language-based. But if they don’t master it fast enough, they quit.

Every year the same cycle repeats itself, and they promise to stick to it, no, really. This is my year. Only for the first of February to come around and whatever they had planned is now lying in dust. To be forgotten about till next year.

If you are dead set about keeping to a goal, here are some tips I’ve learned.

Don’t push yourself too much. This one matters when it comes to fitness. People use the gym daily and burn themselves out fast. Slow it down. Go to the gym maybe 2-3 times a week. Ease into it and increase if you want to. This way, you keep the motivation while also not overworking yourself.

Everything takes time. It takes months to get a basic understanding of a new skill. Don’t put the guitar down or throw the language course away just because you are not fluent or a master yet. It takes practice and years of playing or learning to master any skill.

Better yet. Don’t set goals that are extreme. Set goals that you know you will be able to do. Read books, get healthy. Hell, a resolution doesn’t even need to be for the whole year. You can make it to take part in Veganuary. Only loses a certain amount of weight. Maybe you just want to do something for a few months.

And the main tip. If you don’t stick with it, that’s fine. Don’t be hard on yourself.