It’s New Year’s Eve in Australia, and all through the land, people are making grandiose declarations, commonly known as New Year’s Resolutions.

“I’ll go on a diet and lose 30kg. I’ll never drink calorie-laden fizzy drinks again”;

“I’ll read a book a day, every day”;

“I will never eat ice-cream or chocolate again”;

“Instead of coffee or tea, I will drink water only”;

“I will go to the gym five times a week”.

And on it goes. Sadly, we are just setting ourselves up to fail when we make such sweeping resolutions. (Very important note: I am not talking here about when people are addicted to a harmful substance and they need to give it up forever—that’s a whole different story).

So, instead of making ridiculously unattainable goals, make a tiny change or goal you can stick to. Mine are going to be:

1. Try to read more books than last year;

2. Try to cut out unnecessary foods/beverages and lose 5kg during the year;

3. Exercise more. Instead of a daily 15 minute walk, try to extend it to 30 minutes a couple of times a week.

Writing-wise, I have only one main goal, and that is:

1. Finish the draft of the novel I’m working on now.

Of course, I have other goals each week, month, year. But those are the main ones, the ones I want to concentrate on. I suffer from a lack of focus in that I’m often trying to do too many things at the same time, and I end up finishing none of them.

So happy New Year, everyone, and we’ll meet again in 2014.