The Science Behind Keeping Your Resolution

Cheers to a better, healthier YOU in 2012!

Making a New Year’s Resolution—it’s the topic on everyone’s mind that will end in one of two ways: You’re either going to stick to your guns and feel awesome, or you’ll give up after a few weeks and put it on the back burner until 2013.

But the truth is, it doesn’t have to be that way. “Often times, people become discouraged or angry when their resolution doesn’t pan out,” says Jill Koenig, owner of GoalGuru.com and author of The Time Commandments. “But it’s not the resolution’s fault it wasn’t successful, it’s yours.”

So how exactly can you make a resolution that won’t crash and burn during the first few weeks of the New Year? Simple: Follow these easy tips for keeping your goals on track.

Aim big, plan small. The easiest way to stick to your resolution is to make your goal something you can work toward the entire year, says Koenig. For example: If you’re looking to drop weight, set a larger weight-loss target for the whole year and break that down into smaller monthly increments. “How you break your larger goal up is up to you,” says Koenig. “But by working toward a smaller goal each month, it not only seems more achievable, it keeps your momentum going when you achieve what you wanted.”

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The more, the merrier. Having someone to hold you accountable to a resolution is one of the best ways to keep you on track, says Koenig. For instance, if you’re looking to start a more consistent gym routine in 2012, having a partner to train with can keep you motivated. “But the key thing to keep in mind is you cannot depend on people who have the same struggle as you,” says Koenig. ”You have to pair up with someone who is going to reprimand you when slack off, not comfort you when you fail.”

Start immediately. One of the main reasons why people default on their New Year goals is poor planning. “You cannot wait for motivation to strike to begin your resolution,” says Koenig. “If you say you’re starting this in the New Year, make sure you actually plan to kick off your progress on the first of the month.” Some of the easiest tricks to stay on track is by planning out what you want to achieve each week on Sunday night. “And document it,” suggests Koenig. “If you write it down, not only can you track your progress, you can make sure your goal doesn’t get moved to the back burner.”

Make an awesome resolution that you’ll actually keep! Visit the Men’s Health New Year, New You site for a FREE 30-day plan on how you can be more interesting, lose 20 pounds, have more sex, earn a promotion, or more.