As I leave 2016 behind and prepare for the uncertain eventualities of the new year, I know that I can be confident about one thing: I’m definitely going to break every single one of my resolutions. My attempt to floss twice daily in 2011 failed in mere weeks. Last year’s commitment to read a new book every week lasted three months. Every year, I’m determined to be more organized and productive, but, to my dismay, my old ways eventually creep back in.

The good news is, now there’s help all around me. The city I live in—and cities across the nation—are getting smarter and more connected thanks to companies like AT&T. These “smart cities” employ Internet of Things (IoT) technologies—which, simply put, means ordinary objects are connected to one another to make the goings-on of everyday life appear seamless—to help make our heavily populated urban centers safer, greener, and more efficient.

Smart city technologies are already making my own life a little better by keeping me on time, making my community safer, and helping me help the planet, which is a blessing for me, your repeated—and repentant—failed resolver. By ensuring that everything around us works a little (maybe even a lot) more smoothly, smart cities technologies can help give all of us that boost we need as we strive to put our New Year’s resolutions into practice. With that possibility in mind, here are a few I’ve set for myself in 2017:

1. Be More Environmentally Responsible

I know that now—more than ever—I need to do what I can to help the environment: Switch the lights off when I’m not using them; recycle plastic water bottles; turn off the faucet while I’m brushing my teeth. Simple things, yes, but I’m the first to admit that I’m the first to forget. Luckily, smart cities tech can do the thinking for me.

In my home, connected sensors make my lights automatically turn off when I walk out of a room, saving energy and money. Imagine this technology applied throughout an entire city. For example, smart lampposts can detect when they’re actually needed, switching on as a car approaches or as a passerby is strolling along, then dimming afterward. Communicating with one another, they can also turn on other lampposts further down the road, illuminating the paths of cars and pedestrians long before they’re in the range of a conventional motion sensor.

Some municipalities are implementing energy management dashboards that help both city officials see where and how they’re using energy. Soon enough, I'll be able to do the same thing by pulling up an app on my phone that tracks my resource usage data over time. I’ll also be able to look for anomalies and patterns. For example, I’m consistently leaving the lights on in the basement overnight or cranking the AC when I’m out for the day. Having this kind of data at my fingertips will prompt me to do a little better.

With tech like this all around me, there’s no way not to help the planet.

2. Show up on time

If I’m going to give this resolution a go this year, I know my smart city has my back—and yours, too. Connected traffic lights that can recalibrate themselves to accommodate real-time traffic patterns are a lifesaver if you tend to run late like I do. Some traffic lights already respond to approaching cars, but with connected systems, they’ll be able to anticipate approaching vehicles before they even arrive. That’s not to say we’ll only see green lights, of course, but it does mean that our cities will be more responsive, making it that much easier to cruise along smoothly to our destinations—and much more safely.

Even if I’m not driving (or ride-sharing), smart cities will provide up-to-the-minute information about bus and train arrival times. Commuters who use public transportation will receive more accurate information about when their rides are showing up, providing a sense of relief knowing that their ride is on the way, or one of mild panic knowing they need to find another way to get to work.

3. Try New Things

It’s easy to fall into a rut, especially in the dead of winter when it’s tempting to just stay home. I may want to check out that new restaurant downtown, but who wants to spend time looking for parking? Not me! Smart cities can help there, too. Since parking meters are increasingly plugged into the Internet, I’ll soon be able to see which ones are available—and where they are—without having to drive around. In some cases, I may even be able to use that same technology to reserve spaces in advance. Not only will I be saving time, I’ll also be spared the long walk from some distant spot on a frigid night.

What’s more, once I’ve reached my destination, it’ll be easier than ever to make sure that I have the best possible dining experience because I’ll be able to pull up the latest reviews using a connected kiosk and public Wi-Fi hotspots (assuming, of course, I can get a reservation in the first place).

Smart city innovations are making the spaces around us cleaner and smarter. For once, my new year’s resolutions to be more organized and efficient don’t feel too ambitious. After all, if an entire city can do it—certainly I can, too.

Learn more about AT&T Smart Cities.

Slate Group Studios and AT&T have partnered to bring you this article that aims to mobilize your resolve to keep your New Year’s resolutions with the help of cutting-edge smart cities technologies.