I get caught up in the magical thinking of self-improvement every New Year's Eve, and like most people, I abandon those ideals within the first week of January. However, I stumbled on an article a few years ago ("This Year Make a Manifesto vs. Resolution") that changed my perspective on how to make this yearly ritual productive and realistic.
The author pointed out people are more successful in making lasting changes when they define the ideals of what they're actually trying to become instead of listing less-than-exciting items they resolve to do (e.g. "I want to lose 20 pounds" or "I want to floss more"). By creating a manifesto that taps into what they're passionate about (e.g. "My choices will help me enjoy a healthy life" or "Consistency is my constant companion"), the end goals of what they aspire to are clearer, structuring the daily choices along the way.
A great example? Check out the famous Holstee Manifesto developed by the company's founders to keep them on track with what they are passionate about.