“You aspire to great things? Begin with little ones” (St. Augustine).

We all know the drill: the rush at the end of the year to pick the resolution that will really make the difference for us in the next year, that one thing that will improve productivity, health, relationships, and financial wellness while also being achievable. I will lose 25 pounds! Eat only things that are good for me! Put 25% of my income in a savings account! Spend more time with family and friends!

It’s a rush of “this year will be my year!” followed by the mid- to late-January slump and realization of “Have I gained five pounds?” “Did I only eat fast food this week?” “Have I even seen any other people?”

If your New Year’s resolutions are testing your resolve (and self-confidence), try a few tricks to get back on track with achievable, realistic goals.

Adjust Your Resolutions

We all like to shoot for the moon and think big about what we can achieve—but it can also be hard to wait a whole year to see if you stayed on track. In the meantime, can you tweak your resolutions to be achievable from day to day?

For example, “Exercise every day” could become “Move my body every day.” This movement could include making an extra lap around the grocery store to check out new products, parking in the far corner at the store, or taking the stairs instead of an elevator. No gym membership required!

“Eat only healthy food” could become “Make healthier food choices.” Choose fruit instead of fries with your chicken sandwich, or eat a few chocolate chips to satisfy that craving instead of a whole candy bar. You don’t need drastic lifestyle changes but, rather, a slow replacement of previous food with health(ier) options that can add up over time.

Consider a Resolution That Adds Instead of Takes Away

Often, we pick resolutions that remove something negative from our lives—but it’s hard to sign up for 12 whole months of giving something up. If it were that easy, we probably would have done it already. What about adding something instead?

For example:

• Five to 10 minutes of prayer daily.

• A walk around the block once or twice a day.

• Eating a salad or extra vegetable at one meal per week.

• Holding a family game night once each month.

Find an Accountability Partner

Resolutions often exist in a vacuum: We commit ourselves but don’t ask anyone to help us stay accountable. Consider asking your husband, parent, child, co-worker, or friend to help you stay on track. Ask them to prompt you (“Hey, how is adding that prayer time in your day been going?”) and call out when they see you following through (“I noticed you took the stairs instead of heading to the elevator!”). You can do the same for them in return.

Grant Yourself the Grace to Try Again

You may have hit on the resolution that is achievable and easy to incorporate into your life—and still not follow through. Give yourself some grace; tomorrow is a new day to adjust, adapt, and try again.

Sarah Battersby has a Bachelor's in English and a Master's in Social Work and has spent most of her career working with students and student-serving organizations. She is the co-founder of a consulting firm that serves donors and philanthropic organizations seeking to create and manage impactful scholarship programs. She loves reading, baking, being a mentor, and discovering new things with her daughter. She lives in North Carolina with her family.