Are New Year's resolutions worth while?

Many people make New Year's resolutions every year. Typically they involve losing weight, eating healthier, saving money or learning new things. This all sounds great, but most people reach the end of the year having forgotten last years resolutions and never achieved anything.

While I do think making New Year's resolutions is silly, goal setting is important in achieving any kind of change. Without a goal in mind, you'll be stuck doing the same things day after day. A new year just isn't necessary to start setting goals for yourself. You should be setting goals for yourself no matter what the date is.

Here are some tips for goal setting, whether or not they are New Year's resolutions.

Set specific and attainable goals
It's important to set specific goals so that you have a plan to achieve them. For example, instead of saying "I want to lose 15 lbs this year" say "I will lose 15 lbs this year by going to the gym 3 times per week and eating more vegetables". This way you know how to achieve your weight loss goal.
Write your goals down
By writing down your goals you can keep yourself accountable and won't forget what your goals were by February.
Put your goals somewhere you can see them every day
By making your goals visible you won't forget about them and will think about your goals and how to achieve them on a daily basis
Plan for success
Believing you can achieve your goals is half the battle. If you think you can't do it, then you can't. A positive outlook can make a world of difference.

Happy New Year! And good luck with your New Year's resolutions :)