It’s typical to start the New Year with several lofty resolutions. It’s a time of great optimism where we can convince ourselves that upon waking up the next morning we’ll be completely different people. But how’s that really working out for you?

Maybe you were going to become a gym bunny who gets up at 5:30am to fit in an early morning workout or attend a spinning class EVERY lunchtime.

Maybe you were going to become a gourmet chef whipping up delicious and nutritious dinners after work and not resort to ready meals.

Or maybe overnight you would morph into a person with endless hobbies and interests, the organisation to stay in touch with old friends and the owner of a perfectly decorated immaculate home.

And how much of that have you achieved?

If you’re like me and the answer is not very much, then don’t worry about it too much. There’s still time to change!

Why not make a new resolution for every day or every week or month instead? Split your goals into bite size pieces and you’re more likely to achieve them.

If fitness is your goal, start slowly and aim to visit the gym 2 or 3 times a week rather than the 5 or 6 you were aiming for at first. Once you’ve fulfilled this goal you’ll be feeling great and probably reach the next goal too.

Do you know where your local leisure centres are in Leeds? You can find them all in your Thebestof Leeds local guide. If the gym isn’t your thing, there’s also tennis, badminton and swimming.

 http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/leeds/community-hub/local-guides/leisure-centres

If nutrition or cooking are your goals, do you know how many great Farmers Markets there are in Leeds. Whether you’re in Horsforth, Otley or Chapel Allerton, there’s a market for you. After stocking up on the great fresh produce, you’ll be bursting to cook. Why not make some large batches at weekends and freeze portions for during the week.

You can find a list of markets in Leeds here:

http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/leeds/events/food-and-drink-1342044719.4314

Or maybe you want to start new hobbies and meet some new people. If you’ve always wanted to learn to salsa but are a bit daunted, why not try these beginners’ salsa sessions. They are friendly and informal and open to all beginners with no experience necessary.

http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/leeds/events/nights-out-1342044719.4227

Or for the more artistic, there are plenty of arts and crafts groups to try. Here are 2 to get you started:

http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/leeds/events/arts-crafts

Stop setting the bar too high, instead make it a series of smaller bars; it might take you longer to reach your end goal but at least you’re a lot more likely to get there. And start today!