As the New Year begins, many of us are looking for ways to make a ‘new us.’ The ushering-in of the new year is synonymous with positive change. 2016 is another chance at success, but all too often, our ambitious plans do not end as well as we had hoped. Some general advice on how to deal with setting goals and staying flexible could keep you from being just another ‘resolutioner.’

Spread Out Your Goals

The brain can only handle so much at once. The prefrontal cortex, which governs the ability for self-control and attention span, is a comparatively weak portion of the brain. Like any other muscle, it can sustain only a set limit stress. Bad habits are hard to break individually, but they’re impossible to break all at once. By attempting to exercise more, cut out dessert, quit smoking, read more, and save more money all at once, the chances of success are significantly decreased. Setting one major goal per month will dramatically increase chances of success. A short-lived laundry list of goals in January is much less effective than using January to begin a diet, February to begin jogging, March to begin using weights, and so on.

Master One Goal Before You Move On

Relating to the previous statements about ‘spreading out goals,’ it is important to accomplish one goal before moving on to another. If you only had the willpower to clean half of the garage, your chances of mustering the willpower to learn Spanish are not much better. Focusing on one goal before moving on to another maximizes the chance of success. Momentum from one accomplishment plays into other future goals.

Having a “Relapse” Doesn’t Have to Be the End

Failure–at least limited failure–is sometimes inevitable. However, there is no reason to postpone a difficult goal and reset until 2017. Whether it is the first week or the 50th week of your goal, unforeseen obstacles may emerge between you and your New Year’s resolution. Inconsistency isn’t desirable, but a rough patch is no reason to outright quit something. There is little reason to throw in the towel if your goals have hit a snag. A resolution should be a permanent betterment of a lifestyle, and change on a permanent level does not come lightly.