Let’s be honest, when the new year rolls around, we make these big ambitious “New Year’s Resolutions.” Only for us to have forgotten them about three weeks into January. Here are four proven ways to help you not only meet but crush your resolutions and achieve your biggest goals this year.

1. Start Where You Are

The biggest mistake people make in goal setting is shooting too high. You will not go from overweight or unemployed to being in perfect shape or raking in six figures within a year. If you work every day on smaller tasks with small progress, then your results will be tremendous. Truth is, a lot of times, the difference between success and failure is simply showing up. Taking small steps will lead to accomplishments, which can snowball into other successes. If you start where you are, then keep working one step at a time, and you will reach all your goals within the year. 

In a nutshell, try to aim for progress, not perfection.

2. Be patient.

I know how it feels when you plan out your year, and you want everything to happen right now. You don’t want to wait for anything, so you end up overwhelmed, and you quit. When we expect things to come overnight, we get frustrated by the smallest detours. For example, if you decide you are going to lose thirty pounds this year, then it can be discouraging when one week you lose five pounds and the next week you gain three. 

It is okay, that’s just how it goes when you are trying to change your lifestyle for the better. Going after massive success is not something where you go from 0 to 60 in a year. Be patient and know that everything will happen when it happens.

3. Focus On The Today

It is okay to have goals for the future, but our happiness should come from progress in the present. If you are not happy where you are today, then what makes you think you will be happy tomorrow? So many people get so wrapped up in their big dreams that they forget about what matters most. We should always work to find happiness in our daily activities. If you focus on today, then the future will take care of itself.

4. Reevaluate Your Goals

As humans, we are creatures of habit. We often get so used to doing things a certain way that we don’t even think about changing them anymore. For example, if you wake up tomorrow and decide that your goal of losing thirty pounds is no longer something that you want to do, then it shouldn’t be a big deal. Reevaluate the plans that you have for yourself because sometimes what you thought was right can change. You may pursue different dreams or give up on some dreams altogether. It is your life, after all.

If you keep these four things in mind when setting goals, I can guarantee that you will achieve your biggest dreams this year.