No one is perfect, we all fall short of reaching goals every once in awhile, so creating a healthy habit that lasts should be fun and enjoyable. If your goal is to shed a few pounds or improve your overall fitness, follow these six steps over the next six weeks. Creating a healthy habit that sticks any time of year is easier than you think!

Week 1: Focus on fitness
Let’s start with the basics. Whether you want to lose weight or improve your fitness, start here. Most gyms offer more than enough in the way of options to get you fit. The rest is up to you. If you don’t have a gym membership, try the great outdoors! Walk, jog, rollerblade … heck, do anything to get your body active. If you’ve never worked out before or if it’s been six or more months since your last workout, start with a three-day-a-week routine. Regardless of whether or not you’re a regular to workouts, make yourself accountable in some way. Sometimes the best way to become accountable is by working out with a friend. They’ll be there to give you a nudge if you lose momentum – and vice versa.

Week 2: Make a healthy food commitment
This can be a tough week to make it through, but after you’re past the first couple days, it gets much easier. Do you think you’re a sugar addict? Cut out refined sugar. Do you eat fast food more than once a week? Cut it out. Are you a late-night snacker? Find a healthier evening option. Take it one step at a time and try to make at least two healthy food commitments over these six weeks.

Week 3: Amp it up
It’s time to make things a little different. If you started your workout routine with 30 minutes of cardio, make it 40. If you initially started with a cardio-only routine (no strength training), start resistance training. If you’re already working out long enough, increase your intensity. There is ALWAYS a way to make a difference in your workout.

Week 4: Test yourself
Was your goal to lose 20 pounds? Weigh yourself. Was your goal to run a 10K? See how fast you can run six miles. Was your goal to lose three inches from your waist? Measure yourself. Chart your progress and retest yourself every three or four weeks. Remember, your ultimate resolution is to create a healthy habit, so you may not have met your goal yet. That said, you’re closer to the end result than when you started.

Week 5: Push through it
This week is critical! By week 5, most people are: a) falling back into their old routine, hence “falling off the wagon,” b) so impressed with how much progress they’ve made that they allow a “cheat day” or two … ultimately falling off the wagon, or c) getting so frustrated with a plateau or lack of progress that they willingly jump from the wagon. We all know what a bad day can be like. If you have one bad day eating or miss one or two workouts, don’t quit. Moreover, if you’ve done really well – keep going! Don’t sabotage your success by wolfing down a pizza or taking a few too many days off from your workout regime.

Week 6: Circle back
Congrats! If you’ve made it this far, your healthy habit should be firmly established. It’s time to either recalibrate by changing your routine so you don’t get bored, or increase your challenges to achieve greater goals. This week can also be used as another “test week.” Remember to track your progress and expect setbacks. A positive attitude will push you further than anything.