Many of us know the pattern all too well. We get hyped up for the next year and ready ourselves with resolutions. But about a month in, most of us act as though we’ve forgotten we made any resolutions at all.

Maybe you’ve even said to yourself “this year is going to be different.” But unless you do something different, it probably won’t be. So if you struggle to make those resolutions come true, follow these tips to help them stick.

Make it reasonable

When choosing the right goal for you, think about things you can reasonably achieve. Stating that you want to lose 20lbs in a month is not necessarily reasonable or healthy. However, setting a goal to lose 1-2lbs a week is. Making a resolution isn’t about throwing coins in a well and wishing for the best. It’s about setting a goal that you can achieve and sticking to it.

Write it down

If you have a goal, write it down. This can be a key component in making it come true. Often times when we don’t write things down, we easily forget them. But there’s more to keeping a goal than simply writing it down. We need to make steps and write those down as well. Pick a goal and then think of ways you can achieve that goal. For example; if you want to lose 10 pounds, then maybe set a goal to lose 1-2 lbs a week. From there, you’ll want to break down how you’ll do that. Maybe you’ll count calories and go on an exercise routine. One of your steps may be to download a calorie counting app like MyFitnessPal. As for your exercise routine, make sure you block off time on your calendar for exercising and set yourself a daily/weekly schedule. Keep yourself on track so you can achieve the overall goal.

Don’t do it alone

Accountability is important. Talk to your friends and family, maybe someone will want to be your accountability partner. Plus, the more people you tell, the more ambitious you will probably be in making those goals happen.

Find your motivation

You may find that certain things help you get and stay motivated. Maybe it’s your favorite music? Or it could be an inspirational quote that you hang up, or a visual of some sort. Think about what motivates you and use that to help you succeed.

The key to succeeding in making your resolution come true is willpower and self-discipline. You need to be committed to making the goal happen and self-disciplined enough to stay on track. Start by creating a reasonable goal, then write down what steps you’ll take to achieve it. Stay motivated! If you find yourself losing motivation or commitment to the goal, take time to refocus. You can do this!