It’s the end of 2014! Another year is coming to a close, and it’s time to pull out a notepad and a pen to draft some new resolutions. However, there’s that memory of doing the exact same thing at the end of last year lingering in the back of your mind. The promises made are long dead and have been buried under the onslaught of Netflix and tasty junk food that swamped our lives. We all know what happens in January; we make promises to ourselves about what can be done to improve from the year before. What also happens (usually by February) is that those resolutions are thrown into the trash, only to be recycled for the beginning of the next year.

So how are those promises kept? For once, can those New Year’s Resolutions be maintained? Here are some ways it can be done:

1. Make a list

Step one is usually the easiest. A great way of knowing what needs to be done and keeping up with it is having some sort of visual reminder. Whether you set up a daily notification on your calendar, or have a giant piece of paper with all you promise to do on your wall, have some way of seeing what you promised to do for yourself.

2. Check It Twice (or three times, or four…)

I know, I know; you’re about to pull a Santa. But Mr. Claus doesn’t have it wrong. To ultimately keep up and maintain a resolution, you have to look at it more than once. If the only time you look at that list ends up being when the list is first created, then there’s really no point of having a list of resolutions in the first place. They’re there to remind you of your goals and aspirations; don’t make them pointless. So when it really comes down to it, the Santa method is the one you should stick with.

You can apply these steps to an abundance of resolutions. Some of the most popular resolutions amongst people include:

• “Lose Weight”

One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight in the oncoming year. However, that resolution gets dumped as soon as someone starts working out and sees no immediate results. The best way to keep with this resolution is to change “lose weight” to “be healthy.” The best results occur over time, not right away, and by the end of the year, you’ll be thanking yourself for it. Don’t crash diet, just switch the junk food for fruits and veggies, and healthier alternative snacks. Work out at least three times a week instead of gluing yourself to a screen to watch The Blacklist on Netflix. And if you ever feel less motivated to work towards your goals, just check the list to remind you about why you started in the first place. Your body will thank you for it!

•  “Go On A Trip”

Not everyone can go on a trip every year, and when people pick this resolution, the trip in mind is usually a highly specific location, maybe across an ocean or two, with landmarks and beaches and souvenirs, oh my. But be as ambiguous as the resolution you created in this case. A trip can be to anywhere; a plane, a cruise ship, or a transcontinental train isn’t always necessary. You don’t have to go to Shanghai to have a memorable vacation. A trip to the Florida Keys can be just as exciting if you let it. Consider the people you go with and the things you do, because the name of a place is just that–a name.

• “Do Something Exciting/Face My Fears”

The best way to keep to this resolution is to think about yourself. What’s exciting for you may not be exciting for someone else, and vice versa. Just because you know someone that jumped out of an airplane doesn’t mean you have to do the same thing to fulfill the resolution. It’s all about keeping it in perspective, in this case. Make a list of things that make you nervous, or scared, or thrill you, and do them! Don’t think about other people and their opinions about it. This resolution is all about you doing something for yourself, and don’t forget it.

If some of these resolutions are on your list, now you have some idea of how to keep to them this year. As much as the siren song of whatever show you’re watching on Netflix is entrancing you, try to stay strong and keep the promises you make to yourself this year. Unless your resolution was to watch as much Netflix as possible, then knock yourself out.

Happy New Year, and may 2015 be filled with your fulfilled resolutions!