With New Year’s resolutions, it’s best to think small

Working out in the morning will help you feel strong all day. Try to make your exercise routine an early morning one at least once a week.

Working out in the morning will help you feel strong all day. Try to make your exercise routine an early morning one at least once a week.   (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Instead of making big — and probably unattainable — New Year’s resolutions, Tom Rath suggests small, reachable goals. We have suggestions.

Cut the sweeteners

In your coffee or tea, cut your sweetener by a quarter. Then when you get used to it, cut it back another quarter.   (Michael Shay / Getty Images)

Buy a greener cookbook

Focus on more healthful cooking by purchasing a cookbook that focuses on vegetables.  (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Eat more vegetables

Add green or orange vegetables to your dinner at least once a week.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Walk more

Get up from your desk and walk around every 20 minutes to add steps to your day.  (Les and Dave Jacobs / Getty Images/Cultura RF)

Read the nutrition label

Get an idea of what’s in your food and aim to add more healthful items to your diet.  (Matt Rourke / Associated Press)

Pack a better snack

If choices are limited while you’re out, pack a healthful snack, such as nuts and raisins.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Skip the escalator

Skip the escalator and use the stairs instead.  (Andrew Nelles / Associated Press)

Eat mindfully

Taste each bite and think about where the food comes from; place your fork down between bites and take notice when you’re full.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Peel an orange at home

Eliminate the excuse of not eating an orange at work because it’s messy by peeling it at home.   (Fuse / Getty Images)

Practice balance

When you have a few spare seconds, try balancing on one foot. Practice until you’re good at it.  (Henk Badenhorst / Getty Images)

Dressing on the side

Avoid having restaurants add too much salad dressing by asking for the dressing on the side.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Put the phone in the trunk

Remove temptation and place your cellphone in the trunk before driving; you’ll reduce your chance of a crash from distracted driving.  (Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press)

Monday nudge

Use Mondays, like in the Meatless Monday campaign, to nudge yourself toward a healthier habit. It doesn’t have to be going meatless, but it should be a habit you want to keep.  (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Try a new vegetable

Adding a new vegetable, such as a Jerusalem artichoke, into your meals could be a start toward more healthful eating habits.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Cut down on the sugar

Beyond cutting back on the sweeteners, try to eliminate two other sugar-filled items from your week.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Invest in a fitness tracker

Fitness trackers help remind users to move around more and be mindful of how much they move throughout the day.  (AFP/Getty Images)

Try meditation

Mindfulness meditation can help reduce anxiety, depression and pain. It’s worth a try.  (Nadya Lukic / Getty Images)

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