Looking forward to a successful new year is a lot more than just following through on a New Year’s resolution. It’s about setting tangible goals for yourself and marking your progress along the way. Plotting small daily and weekly achievements towards larger life goals can really help you feel a sense of accomplishment.

Today, sit down and take an inventory of your mind, body, and spirit. Note the things you’d like to improve. For example, if you are dissatisfied with your job, write that down. Or if you feel rather bored by your day-to-day life, make a note of that too. Wherever you’d ideally change, be honest about it and make your list.

Next, brainstorm ways of improving these parts of your life. Want to change your job? Perhaps you can take a professional development class or start networking with people in another field that interests you. Dissatisfied with the state of your health? Think about exercising a couple times per week or making small incremental changes to your diet.

Finally, make a commitment to yourself about doing some of the items on your list with the goal of changing your circumstances in the year ahead. Write them in a calendar and mark your progress.

It’s exciting to start a new year. This exercise will really help you take a positive first step.