Anne Lamott just advised me not to go on a diet on January 1st. I think she’s right– the people who go on diets lose a lot of weight in a hurry and then put it all back on plus five pounds. I really don’t need that five extra pounds.

More than that, I want to set goals for 2016– measurable goals like eating a piece of fresh fruit each day and walking for thirty minutes on the treadmill.  With a specific goal I can tell whether or not I’ve succeeded. I either did or did not submit a certain number of articles to parenting magazines. I did or did not get 225 minutes of exercise last week.

Resolutions are so all or nothing. “I’m going to lose weight.” Too general. “I’m going to be kinder.” When? While I’m fuming or just when I’m a happy camper? Too vague. I’m a checklist kind of person. So when I set a specific goal I can measure it. Either I did or didn’t.

I always laugh in the first few weeks of January when I’m exercising at the club. It’s packed with people beginning their new routines for their New Year’s resolutions. By the middle of the month most of the resolution people are long gone and the old regulars have room to breathe while walking on the track.

So don’t make New Year’s resolutions. Instead set doable, measurable goals. Give yourself some cheat days and when you fall off the wagon, be willing to start over. Be kind to yourself. I think Anne would approve.