Many people start off the new year by setting resolutions. But according to an article by Stephanie Vozza in Fast Company, resolutions often fail because our brains work against us, making us resistant to change. Jeremy Campbell, a performance improvement consultant, advocates adopting new habits instead of setting resolutions. Campbell believes that when people work on establishing habits, they can create long-lasting change.

Jeremy Campbell outlines six principles that will help you adopt a new habit:

• Clarify your goal. Be specific about what you want. Instead of saying you want to learn more in 2023 (general), you might say you want to complete a certificate course by June of 2024 (specific and easy to visualize).
• Break down your goal into steps. Smaller actions are easier to accomplish and incorporate into your life. If you want to complete a certificate, think about what steps you’ll need to take (e.g., assign certain hours to study, take one course per semester, etc.).
• Measure. You will have to keep track of how you are doing, perhaps by keeping a journal or creating a spreadsheet.
• Be consistent. This step is the hardest, but consistency is the key to long-term success.
• Be accountable. It’s hard to stay on course without someone to cheer you on or hold you accountable.
• Celebrate your wins.  Make sure to acknowledge any positive changes or movement toward your goals.

Read Why you should focus on habits instead of resolutions this New Year for more details.