First, think about what you could do, not what you should do - something you can do immediately that brings you energy and excitement! 

For many of us, the start of a new year is a moment when we can visualize what we want for ourselves, the possibilities and what it would be like for our hopes to become a reality.  So, what makes it so hard for us to connect with those thoughts and actions as the month unfolds? Many people would say real life, and they would be right! For this reason, essential steps such as finding support and celebrating our progress can make all the difference.

Assess your motivation: On a scale of 1-10, how motivated are you to make this change? Is this something that you could see yourself doing for the rest of your life?

Start small: Avoid setting too many goals at the same time. Pick one or two that you can truly focus on rather than becoming overwhelmed.  Break large goals into small steps. If you are trying to lose weight, what is the next step to support your goal? This could be anything from packing a lunch, swapping your soda for water or walking on your lunch break.

Write out an action plan and keep it where you can see it daily: Outline the vision that you see and the steps that will get you to that point.

Challenges and setbacks are inevitable and should even be anticipated: Be flexible! Think ahead to possible obstacles – or things that could possibly get in the way of your success. Develop strategies to overcome these challenges and give yourself permission to change your goal rather than completely give up on it!