Most first-time parents will agree that bringing a newborn home from the hospital is exciting, but also terrifying. As new parents, we’re expected to keep a tiny human alive with very little instruction or training.

It’s not uncommon for new parents to lie awake those first few nights (or much longer) watching their baby sleep to make sure your they’re still breathing. Becoming a mother for the first time taught me what my own fears were about parenting and revealed the situations that made me more on edge.

If you’re like many people, the new year is a time that you’re reflecting on your life and what you want to improve on. Many of us are quick to jump to lofty ways we want to dramatically change are lives, which often end up getting tossed out the window by the end of January (if not sooner). If you want to make a meaningful change this year that will actually stick, here are some ideas for approaching your resolutions differently: