Seven Tips for Keeping Your New Year’s Resolutions

Telling your friends about your goals, keeping a written record of your progress and reminding yourself why a change is important are just three ways you can help boost your chances of success.

If you’ve failed at keeping your new year’s resolutions in the past, you’re not alone. In fact, you’re solidly in the majority.

In a study of 700 people who made such resolutions, a full 78 percent failed to keep their goals, according to Professor Richard Wiseman of the University of Hertfordshire, who led the study. Resolutions included typical goals such as losing weight and starting a better relationship.

But 12 percent did reach their goals, and you can too. Here are seven things you can do to up your chances of success:

1. Break goals into steps.

Your goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-based (or, SMART), recommends Wiseman. And just as you would build a fence brick by brick, you need to create smaller goals that will build toward your larger goals. For example, if you want to lose 20 pounds, analyze your current eating habits and create a realistic plan to get there, which should include concrete measurable changes that you can make like adding at least one serving of vegetables to your meals and switching from regular sodas to seltzer with lemon.

2. Tell friends and family of your plans.

Making sure the people in your life know what you are undertaking will help you get crucial support for your changes and will help keep you accountable those times when you want to give up.

[Read secrets to getting thin and healthy from Jennifer Aniston's trainer Mandy Ingber.]

3. Make a list of the benefits of your change, and revisit it often.

Getting in shape, for example, offers many rewards beyond looking better on your wedding day. Exercise can lower anxiety, boost your self-esteem, make you joyful and more. Write down every single thing you’re looking forward to about your change, and remind yourself of the benefits frequently each day.

4. Reward yourself at each step.

Create a plan of treats you can give yourself at each step in the journey to success (not food, alcohol, or cigarettes, of course). Creating a list of healthy treats to pick from such as a long bubble bath, a new skin care cream, a new exercise outfit or simply some time with a cup of chamomile and your favorite magazine will help reinforce your new habits and keep you motivated.

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