Studies show that a mere 8% of people keep their New Year’s Resolutions each year. We start out full of motivation for the first few days or weeks, but soon give into cravings and bad habits. And, by the time the year is no longer new, resolutions tend to get chucked out with the rest of the turkey and Christmas leftovers.

So, if you want to beat the statistics, you’re going to need to make some choices. We’ve put together a few tips to keep you on track, slowly but surely.
Decide on one thing and focus on it. Like with anything else you set out to do, achieving one goal at a time is easier than spreading your attention on several different ones. Perhaps your resolution could be to achieve one monthly goal you set for yourself.

Be realistic. Pick a safe and attainable goal, rather than overwhelming yourself. Resolving to cut out ALL bread, pasta and pizza is likely to fail, for instance. Start with cutting down on one item from your normal diet each month.

Don’t give up the moment you slip up. Many people feel defeated if they miss one morning jog or eat a bread roll. Don’t. That is just a lazy excuse to give in and give up. Put it behind you and get yourself back on track straight away – not tomorrow.

Write down your goals and keep a record of your accomplishments. Just like with a report card, track your progress. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, take a picture of yourself every day or every couple of days – the difference will be small but it will be noticeable. This will keep you motivated and excited about your progress.

Give it a month. Studies have shown that it only takes three weeks to break any habitual cycle. Care to prove them right? Set a time frame of one month but do not expect instant results – a quick fix is rarely the answer, so stick with it.

Reward yourself. If your goal is to stop smoking, then give yourself a treat every milestone – the first week, month and beyond.
Do you have a knack for keeping your New Year’s resolutions? We would love to hear how you do it in the comments section below.