The New Year is full of symbolism and hype. People are encouraged to make resolutions and look at the year ahead as a fresh start, a clean slate. But what if you’re not feeling so “fresh?” What if last year’s problems have decided to follow you into this year?

It’s true that the January 1st is not a magic day. When the clock strikes midnight, your debts are not erased, your relationship and family struggles do not melt away, and you do not miraculously gain the health and vitality of your twenty-year-old past self (if only!). However, that doesn’t mean the New Year isn’t powerful. It is.

New Year’s celebrations have been going on for centuries, all across the world. In Spain, it’s lucky to eat 12 grapes at midnight, symbolizing the months ahead. In Italy, people consume lentils, which are thought to resemble coins and bring prosperity. The Chinese New Year (which happens on February 1st this year) is heralded by an elaborate string of celebrations that include fireworks, traditional dishes, lantern festivals, and more. The end of one year and the beginning of another is something to be celebrated and enjoyed. There’s a sense of accomplishment (“We made it through yet another year!”) and a feeling of starting anew.

Though our lives are not wiped clean, we can foster a “clean slate attitude.” We can use the sense of renewal associated with the New Year as a motivator to reflect, reorganize our lives, and move forward in a meaningful way.

Reflect

I encourage you to find a quiet spot and take some time to reflect on the past year and future goals. What went well last year? What didn’t? What major changes would you like to introduce in the coming year? If you’d like, jot down a few notes in a journal or talk over your thoughts with a close friend or family member. Your reflection time is ultimately yours—do whatever works best for you, whether that’s meditation, a long walk, or scribbling out your thoughts over a quiet cup of coffee.

Reorganize

If you’re going to make changes in the year ahead, it’s a good idea to get organized. Collect your thoughts and focus on the main goal or goals you’d like to accomplish. How will you get there—what steps do you need to take? What support will you need (an accountability partner, perhaps, or an app for tracking your progress)?

A “clean slate” attitude can help launch you into the New Year, but it’s tough to maintain this kind of energy forever. Because of that, consider making a series of short-term goals that you can obtain within a month or two. Once you’ve completed one goal, start on the next! By using this “bite-sized” approach, you can have a number of clean slates throughout the year.

Move Forward

Your best intentions are meaningless without action to back them up. Once you’ve made your plan, it’s time to hit the “go” button and start working toward your goals. Use the energy and excitement of the New Year to start you down your path, and come up with a series of motivators to sustain your energy along the way (a reward for reaching a certain milestone, perhaps, or a weekly or bi-weekly check-in with an accountability partner). Do whatever it takes to sustain your energy and enthusiasm, and keep moving forward.

Remember that you are worth it, and your goals are worth it, too. Even though life does not magically become perfect on January One, you can still lean on the hope and motivation of this time to propel you forward and enable you to obtain your goals. Let’s make it a good year!

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