5 Questions to Answer Before Finalizing Your 2016 Goals

Every January, my Facebook feed turns into a veritable smorgasbord of unbridled optimism. This year, my friends have enthusiastically committed to “eat cleaner and drink less,” “find a better job,” and “sleep more, exercise more, laugh more, love more and read more.” (That last person is going to be very busy.)

The beginning of each year feels like a clean slate—it’s a natural time to set goals. But it’s much harder to make them happen in the months that follow. Thankfully, though, science is squarely on the side of goal-setters—they are 10 times more likely to change their behaviors than non-goal-setters. The secret is to create the right goals. So whether you want to improve your job performance, your career, your relationships or your health in 2016, ask yourself these five questions before finalizing your game plan.