It’s that time of year again. Time to take stock. Time to reappraise. Yes, time to set New Year’s resolutions!

Setting these kinds of goals and committing to them is a very worthwhile process. It’s a great opportunity to look back and see where we can enhance our personal, family, social and professional lives.

Whether you want to attain a healthier lifestyle, be a better money manager, have a more active social life, extend your travel horizons or discover new hobbies – the challenges in getting there are essentially the same.

Ever wonder why some people seem to have what it takes to stick to their goals while others struggle? It may be easy to blame a lack of willpower and discipline, but there may be other forces at work waiting to thwart your good intentions.

The problem may not lie in some sort of personality deficiency at all. Often, it’s a case of setting the wrong goals. Wrong meaning the goals are simply unrealistic in nature, with expectations that are not actionable and achievable and without a plan.

So how can we avoid setting ourselves up for disappointment? Here are a few tips on how to set some solid goals for the new year:

Make It Matter

Goal setting is much more than simply saying you want something to happen. If you don’t clearly define what you want and understand why you want it, your odds of success are considerably reduced. For any exercise like this to succeed, the goals you set have to matter to you. In other words, think about why the goal is important. Tying in an emotional benefit is a strong motivator. This aspect, of course, includes anticipated benefits to others as well.

Do the Plan

It’s great to come up with a wish list, but that’s just the starting point. The real work is in laying out an action plan. It should include each resolution, why it’s important, the steps to achieving it, potential challenges to address, timeframes and a specific means of measurement. It’s also smart to build in a little time at the beginning to get into the swing of things through practice to help instill new habits.

Don’t Bite Off Too Much

Setting the bar too high is a fast road to failure. Based on what you believe it would take, could you really lose 25 pounds in three months? Cut your monthly spending by 25 percent? Find 25 new friends? It’s fine to challenge yourself, but step back for a moment and make sure you have a fighting chance of hitting the mark. Often, breaking larger goals into smaller, more manageable steps can encourage success.

Ambiguity Is the Enemy

How can you expect to reach the finish line if you’re not sure where the track leads? Once you’ve determined an area you want to work on, come up with a specific definition for success that can be quantified and stick to it. That way, you’ll know where you’re headed and can track your progress along the way.

Put It on Paper

Writing commitments down somehow always seems to make them more tangible and concrete. It’s tough to argue with a list looking back at you. Many people find it helpful to post their list in a place where they see it every day. Some even create journals for frequent reference and for tracking incremental progress.

Tap into Peer Pressure

There’s nothing like friends and family for helping to keep us accountable for what we say we’re going to do. Sure, there’s a bit of a shame factor going on but, more importantly, your network can be your most important source of positive reinforcement and motivation. You may even discover a teammate for pursuing the same goal. But don’t forget that it’s ultimately up to you to make it happen.

Be Open to Modification

Evaluating your progress on a regular basis may lead to a reassessment of your original goal. That’s OK. The idea is to make progress and feel good about that, rather than get frustrated and give up. If something isn’t working, determine whether the goal is just too ambitious or whether there are other changes you can make that could help support your progress.

Give Yourself a Hand

Along with setting realistic goals in attainable steps, a few pats on the back can go a long way toward acknowledging achievement along the way. Sometimes our worst enemy is internal doubt and discouragement. Take backsliding in stride and get back on track. This can be especially important in the early stages. So, think good thoughts and keep going!

Some resolutions may extend only through one year. Others are often important changes you want to make over the long term. Don’t sit on your laurels and get complacent. For those long-term ambitions, keep your plan in place with any appropriate modifications including checkpoints and motivational rewards. As you infuse this process into your lifestyle, you may be surprised how good you become at it.