I would be lying if I said that I did not get excited for each and every New Year. It is a chance to reset, refocus and make changes. It is a chance to step back in the batter’s box for another at-bat. It is a chance to pick yourself up off the canvas after being knocked down. So why are New Year’s resolutions such an absolute waste of your time?

First of all, making changes in your life and setting goals is not a waste of your time. It is the absolute best possible use of your time. If you do not know what your goals are in life, you will drift aimlessly, never really accomplishing anything; never living up to your full potential. Setting goals is not something that should be done once a year on January 1^st. It should be done constantly. As soon as a goal is no longer exciting, forget about it and set a new one.

Becoming successful is a process. It is a constant progression of becoming a better you. It is the constant development of better habits. Every single day should be treated like New Year’s Day. You should always be analyzing the results of your efforts and making minor alterations, not total transformations.

The key to successfully setting new goals is starting small. Ridiculously small. Once you realize you can manage a small change, you increase it. You complete this cycle for as long as it takes to reach your highest of aspirations.

By starting small you create manageability. It’s much easier to commit to going to the gym twice a week for 15 minutes than it is to go “Zero to Hero”, making a totally unrealistic commitment of 60 minutes, 5 days a week. You will just burn yourself out and quit. Then you will wait for next January 1^st. This is a vicious cycle that we must end. We must make minor changes, then build upon them. This works with all goals. If you want to start writing a blog, do not commit to writing every single day for 2 hours. You will never do it. Start with 1 hour a week. Start with 250 words a week. Manageability is the key.

Now, while activities and new habits should be small, this does not mean that you should limit the size of your ambitions. This is not a reason to lower your sights. If you want to make a billion dollars you can. If you want own 5 vacation homes – go for it. Do not trade your dream of owning a Lamborghini in for a new Hyundai. Dreams are meant to be huge. The only way to do BIG things, is to have BIG dreams. The activity, or the translation of dreams to reality, is where the steps must be small. You cannot climb Mount Everest without taking a small first step. Remember this. You cannot build a billion dollar business on your first sales call.

Remember that successful people are just people with successful habits. Healthy people are people with healthy habits.

So ditch your New Year’s resolutions this year and make a commitment to plan your successes each week. Commit to the process. There are no shortcuts. Make small changes more frequently and quit trying to completely transform your life in one magical day.

Matthew Harris