The new year is here, and many of us are setting goals and making resolutions for what we want to accomplish in 2016.

Is this is a good tradition? Many of us find that we forget our resolutions and fail to meet our goals. Often setting goals only leads to feelings of frustration and failure. So what do we do? Should we not set goals at all?

As you make your goals for the new year, consider why you’re setting goals. Do you feel pressured to? Or do you really want to? If you’re setting goals for your own happiness, it will be much easier to keep them. Ask yourself this all-important question:

What will make me happy in 2016?

Of course the answer will be different for each individual. Here are some goals for the new year for you to consider.

Let go of something. What is in your life that’s hurting you, frustrating you, slowing you down, or holding you back? What do you need to let go of, get rid of, or walk away from to make 2016 happier year? It might be something small, like a trinket that reminds you of the past. It might be something big, like a job or a relationship. It might be a bad habit. It might be hard to make the decision - but once you do, you won’t regret it.

Learn something. What can you learn that will make your life better? It might be a class that will make your work easier or increase your paycheck. It might be a hobby that you’ve always wanted to get into. It might be a complete career change. Whatever it is for you, big or small, make a goal of learning something that will make your life happier in 2016.

Take care of something. What have you been neglecting that is making you unhappy? Perhaps your body is unhealthy and you need to care for yourself. Maybe there is a room in your home that you want to re-decorate. Consider if there is a relationship in your life that has been neglected, that will bring happiness and satisfaction if you take care of it. Make a goal of taking care of something this year.

Give to something.It has been proved over and over that giving happiness to others increases your own happiness. Make a goal of giving something - your money, your time, your skills - to an organization or a cause that you believe in.

And remember, as you’re choosing your goals and making your resolutions, to keep it simple. Don’t try to change too much at once, or add too many new things to your life. Focus on a few things - at the most, the four areas mentioned above - that will make you happy this year. If you do this, you’ll find that it’s easy to keep your resolutions!