Most of us have made a New Year’s resolution in our lifetime – But l how many of us have actually stuck to it? Inevitably, something comes up that throws us off course, or we get busy with our regular schedules, and before we know it, another year has gone by. Research shows New Year’s resolutions often get tossed by the wayside come mid-January.

Here are some steps to making — and sticking to — goals.

Make a plan with small, easy to “bite off” steps you can take toward your larger goal.  Want to “lose weight”?  That’s a great overall goal, but it’s too vague.  Instead, take a smaller step by saying “I will walk 4x a week”, or “I will cut out sugar from my diet”, which can be built upon with more steps down the road toward your ultimate goal of “losing weight”.

Make it a habit with 3 parts:  a trigger for an automatic behavior (like, leaving your workout clothes on the end of your bed);  the behavior itself (i.e. actually going on your walk);  and a reward (like treating yourself to a new pair of shoes).  It tricks your brain into thinking “ooh walking is good, I like that!”

Manage setbacks – and know that there WILL be setbacks. One little hiccup is not worth throwing in the towel.  Don’t beat yourself up about it.  Just get right back into the new healthy routine you’re trying to set for yourself.

You’ve got this!!!