Yes, it’s that time of year again — time to set goals to work toward for the next 12 months. While new year resolutions have a bad rap, they really shouldn’t. With the big holidays behind us, January provides a mental fresh start and the freedom to say goodbye to whatever happened in 2024. It’s all a matter of setting the right new year resolutions.

The key to setting good goals is making them aspirational and yet attainable at the same time — something you want to work toward, and you can honestly see yourself achieving. Choosing a new year resolution that’s too big or one that requires a big overhaul of your daily routine will only set you up for frustration and failure. It’s also smart to pick a goal that can be broken down into a clear step-by-step process to conquer it. When you can take small steps, the task ahead isn’t so daunting and challenges are much easier to overcome.

The very first step, though, is to figure out exactly what you want your new year resolution to be. Many people choose to focus on goals that boost their health (like resetting your sleep schedule) while others would rather reorganize their home or commit to random acts of kindness.

We have made a list of some very easy and practical things you might want to bring into your life which could have amazing results.

Start a gratitude journal.

This may just be the easiest new year’s resolution, and also one of the ones that can really help you feel better. In fact, research has shown that recognizing the things in your life that you can be grateful for is good for your mental and physical wellness. It literally breathes new life into us. It recharges, and it rejuvenates. The best part? It takes only a few minutes every day to write in a gratitude journal.

Make time for family.

It sounds cheesy, but if you have healthy family relationships, do everything you can to maintain them. Family members can help you get through tough times and celebrate the great times. This year, try to carve out one-on-one time with loved ones (close friends can be family too!), whether it’s via monthly family dinners or weekly get-togethers.

Create a budget you can stick to.

Budgeting doesn’t mean you can’t spend money. Budgeting is just the process of sitting down to think about what your priorities are — what you would like to spend money on and what you want to avoid spending money on — within your income limits. Like any new habit, it might be best to ease into new spending behaviors so you’re able to commit to long-term changes. Budgeting apps can help you do this as painlessly as possible. You can also get creative with cash-back programs to save money on purchases you’re already planning to make.

Be more mindful.

Contrary to popular belief, mindfulness doesn’t require hours of weekly meditation or any special training. In fact, practicing mindfulness is just doing everything you can to be grateful for what you have in the moment, where you are in life and who you are right now.

Cook new foods.

We all have our go-to meals, and they serve us well when we’re short on time or don’t have the energy to plan for something novel. But chances are you’re missing out on tons of foods that are both yummy and healthy. Set aside one meal every week (even lunch on a weekend!) to try cooking with a new ingredient or making a new-to-you dish. You might be pleasantly surprised to find another dinnertime staple for your household.