By the time you will read this, it will be after New Year’s Day. It’s currently Friday afternoon as I sit down to write this. The most appropriate viewpoint for this time of year is one based on the start of a new year - that some may see as a new transition, a new beginning or the perfect time to introduce a new project, dream, step or change in life.

All of these fall under the famous New Year’s resolution category. Want to lose an extra 10 pounds? Perfect time to join a gym! Want to start eating healthier? Time to start planning nutritious meals and eating out less. Finally ready to start working on that novel? Take a writing class to go along with your writing throughout the day. Aiming to read more books? Why not join your local library’s book club? Feel like you should spend more time with family? You could set a time limit on smartphone use.

Throughout my young adult and adult life, I have set only a few resolutions. One resolution - giving up soda - I actually kept for several years, and I still barely drink it to this day. For 2017, I haven’t given too much thought to it - but all in good time.

Whether you’re an I’ll-make-a-resolution-when-it-fits-my-life person (like myself) or a yearly resolution maker, here are a few tips on how to keep your resolution going all year long. Forbes.com contributor Kevin Kruse explained in a Dec. 26, 2016, article, “Seven secrets of people who keep their New Year’s resolutions,” how to start and keep yourself on track.

• Make your goals specific. Instead of making a general resolution of getting into shape this year, try making a specific, concrete goal of doing 10 push-ups every day and running on a treadmill for 20 minutes three times a week.

• Measure progress. Kruse said, “‘If you can measure it, you can change it’ is a fundamental principal of psychology. These feedback loops will be a source of motivation as you reflect on where you started and where you are. They will also help you to know when you are hitting a plateau or slipping backward, so you can adjust your efforts.”

• Be patient. Don’t become discouraged if you don’t get the results you want right away. “Making lasting changes takes time,” Kruse said.

• Share your goals with friends and family. Depending on your resolution, you might feel vulnerable telling people, but getting that support behind you could mean - and make - all the difference.

• Schedule it. Kruse said the excuse of finding the time to commit to your resolution doesn’t work. “Nobody finds time; we choose time,” he said. If you must, write it on the calendar, or set an alarm on your phone. Don’t find the time. Choose the time.

• Something is better than nothing. To have a mindset of all or nothing won’t help you maintain and work toward your resolution. Scraping together a little effort on an off day is better than making no effort at all.

• Get up when you slip up. “Legendary coach Vince Lombardi said, ‘It isn’t whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get back up.’ Resiliency is paramount. Don’t turn temporary failures into total meltdowns or excuses for giving up. Instead, just acknowledge the mistake and recommit to the path toward the goal,” Kruse said.

I know - I got it. My resolution for 2017 will be to drink more water daily. For the first week, I will drink two full glasses of water a day and increase that number by one glass each following week, until I get to the recommended eight glasses per day. I think drinking eight glasses of water a day is going to be hard, but following these tips may help me along the way - as I hope they do for you, too.

Happy New Year, Press readers. Let’s make 2017 a great one, even if we slip up once in a while.

Stacey Koch

editorial assistant

Catasauqua Press

Northampton Press

Whitehall-Coplay Press