We’re at the beginning of a new year and even the start of a brand-new decade. Many people are making New Year’s resolutions. We want to lose weight, quit smoking, or be more mindful of the environment. But goals like “using digital technology in a healthier way,” which we wrote about in our previous article, or “finding a new job” also rank high on the list of desired changes.

But how do you go from thinking about what you want to change to actually changing your behavior? Changing habits is still a real challenge. If you want to stick to your resolutions, it’s important to set realistic goals and make concrete plans. Think in small steps and keep things manageable,because major changes are much harder to maintain.

Fortunately, there are more and more (government) initiatives that can help you, such as the website ikpas.nl. If you sign up on this site, you’ll receive smart tips and encouragement to go alcohol-free for a month. This benefits not only your health, but also your work and career.

Here are a few practical tips to help you actually stick to your New Year’s resolutions.

Tip 1: Explore your motivation
Resolutions succeed or fail based on your own motivation. Do you truly want to spend less time online,or is it because your partner keeps asking you to? Do you really want a different job, or is it because your mother keeps suggesting you should look for something new? Take time to explore whether your resolution genuinely comes from your own intrinsic motivation, so you can wholeheartedly say YES to it.

Tip 2: Keep it small: take manageable steps
Many resolutions fail because the steps are simply too big. So break your resolution down into small, manageable actions. Wanting to get up an hour earlier every day is a great goal, but for most people, it’s too ambitious all at once. It’s better to start small—begin with getting up 5 minutes earlier, and if that goes well, gradually increase it in small steps until you reach your target time. It also helps to set a clear end goal, for example: by February 15, 2020, I will be getting up an hour earlier each day.

Tip 3: Make it concrete
A goal like “I want a new job” is quite vague. Make it more concrete by setting a specific intention—for example: once a week, I’ll spend one hour searching online for vacancies related to my future job and scheduling networking meetings. And make sure to actually block that hour in your calendar.

Tip 4: Make it visual
Agile working is becoming increasingly common in many workplaces, and one of its visible features is working visually, think of sticky notes on the walls. The advantage is that anyone passing by can immediately see what the team is working on. But this also works great for personal goals! Write your resolution on a sticky note and place it somewhere you’ll see it every day, on your mirror or refrigerator, for example. If you notice that you’re seeing the note but no longer consciously reading it, move it to a new spot. That way, your resolution stays fresh in your mind each day!

Tip 5: Reward yourself immediately
For every small, concrete step you take, give yourself a reward, even something as simple as a conscious pat on the back! And if things don’t go as planned one day? Just pick it up again the next. Every moment is a good moment to experiment with new behavior!

Good luck with all your New Year’s resolutions. With these tips, you’re sure to succeed!