It’s a brand new day, and a brand new year. What will be different this time next year? Absolutely nothing if you and I don’t build the right habits. If you haven’t read Atomic Habits by James Clear, run — don’t walk, to get this book. In fact, if you read only one other book besides the Bible this year, let it be Atomic Habits. It’s that good.

I am working on developing a few strong habits this coming year, starting a few days ago. Here are three things (in addition to following the excellent advice in Atomic Habits) that I am keeping in mind for me, and I believe they are beneficial for you as well.

Don’t go big or go home

Going too big too soon often brings about an almost immediate fail. Starting smaller and building tends to bring progress. I think of my friend Ashleigh Mayfield who decided to walk for 18 minutes a day last year. I don’t know why she chose 18 minutes, but it worked. She shared her journey on Instagram regarding how this one small habit changed her life in a positive direction. I know I need to get in better shape but I know better than to sign up for CrossFit or register for a marathon this year. Not that there won’t be women who do that and wildly succeed. I just know me. Signing up for something radical would be a recipe for failure. I’m choosing something significant yet not so overwhelming that I’ll give up almost before I get started.

Don’t do it for other people

Every time I make a plan to get healthy on behalf of other people, I fall flat on my face. The reason was because every time whoever I was doing it for let me down in some way, I would get so angry I would quit. I would get mad and think, “I don’t want to do this for them anymore,” and I’d do something dumb like go eat an entire bag of potato chips in one sitting, believing that I was hurting them but in reality I was only hurting me. Since then I have gotten better about not raiding the pantry on behalf of feeling some kind of way about others, and processed my feelings in a healthier way. Not gonna lie though, I still have a lot of work to do. Why am I pursuing greater health this year? For me. I’m doing it for me. I encourage you to go for whatever goal you have set for your sake. You’re worth it.

Do habit stack…

James Clear talks about habit stacking in his book. Habit stacking is when you stack a new habit on top of an old one that you already have down pat.

I never fail to brush my teeth before going to bed at night but I most often go to bed without washing my makeup off. I know it’s a terrible habit. My pillowcase looks nasty and has to be changed a lot. I get super tired before bed and saunter in to brush and floss my teeth and plop into bed and I just don’t want to take the time for one more thing. But I know I need to.

Surprisingly, I am not alone. I found this out when two friends admitted this to me at a conference. They do it too. One of my friends has made progress with developing this habit by keeping Neutrogena makeup wipes beside the bed and she takes time to wipe her face with them even as she sits there in bed getting ready for sleep. I have done that quite a number of times since she told me this helpful hint. But I still miss a lot of nights of doing it. I am going to connect this to brushing and flossing my teeth going forward in the new year and have it as a “must do” habit that before laying my head on that pillow, I must not only brush and floss my teeth but wash my face.

These are three things I’m focusing on as I move forward with some goals this year.

What about you?