Another year has come and gone, and many of us are ready to get started on our New Year’s resolutions. According to Forbes, roughly 40% of Americans set resolutions heading into the new year. Self-improvement is a big deal at the beginning of every year, but unfortunately many resolutions fizzle away—even with the best intentions.

According to a study by the University of Scranton, out of the 40% of the US population who sets a New Year’s Resolution, only 8% achieve their goals.

Why is sticking to a resolution so incredibly difficult?

Consider the “shiny new object” approach via The Guardian.

“Humans are programmed to find new things exciting and compelling – this has been shown even in very young babies. Scientists held up a red card in front of a baby’s eyes and measured how long the baby looked at it. They then held up two more red cards. The baby looked at each card for less and less time – the cards became less interesting, just as going to the gym quickly becomes tedious. Then the scientists held up a green card instead and the baby looked at it for longer. This proves that the baby isn’t color blind and also shows how novelty captures our attention. This instinct may keep us sharply aware of possible dangers, but it isn’t so helpful when we’re trying to focus on something over time.”

Even though the odds are stacked against us to stick to our resolutions, not all hope is lost. You can stick to your new goal going into 2018 by following these key secrets:

Secret #1: Be Specific

One way to fail with new goals before you even begin is by being too broad.

For example, exercising more is one of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions. While this sounds like a great goal, simply stating that you’ll “exercise more” won’t help you reach your goals.

The idea is that you need to specifically state what exercise you will do and how often you’re committing. Whether you want to run or do yoga, choose one (or more) specific exercises to add to your routine. This way, if you go to the gym, you won’t be completely lost and staring at the various machines.

Secret #2: Don’t be Overzealous

Another problem with goal-setting, whether it’s in fitness or anything else, is that many become overzealous in reaching their new goals. This can easily lead to burnout and throwing in the towel in just a few short weeks.

If you are beginning a side business and your plan is to quit your job, cutting ties with your current employer without a plan for income isn’t in your favor. While you might have a million-dollar idea, it’s never smart to leave your job if you don’t have a savings or income source.

Focus on starting small. Take baby steps to start a business so you can break away from your job without fear.

If your goal is to eat healthier, it’s likely unrealistic to go from an unhealthy diet to sticking to a strict diet plan such as Adkins. Make small transitions that don’t overwhelm or frustrate you. If you typically have fast food for lunch, try bringing a turkey sandwich to work instead. No one is going to be happy by switching from Arby’s for lunch to consuming a few celery sticks instead. If you’re miserable on a new diet plan and your goals were overzealous, it’s time to step back and re-evaluate.

Secret #3: Have a Plan

Having a plan in place makes goal setting (and achieving) much more likely. While you know what result you want after you reach your goals, you need a roadmap to get you there.

Circling back to the popular exercise resolution, you might decide that you want to run a 5k in 2018. If you haven’t run as much as a mile in the past year, you likely will not go out on a stress-free jog for 3.1 miles.

Instead of winging it, try searching on Google for plans that build you up to running a 5k. Not only will this keep you on track, but it will also help provide a confidence boost as you make progress.

Secret #4: Set a Timeframe

Giving yourself an indefinite amount of time to reach a goal can send your new year dreams into a tailspin.

Instead of giving yourself an unspecified amount of time to build up to 3.1 miles, register for a 5k for sometime in the spring. If you begin in January, this will give you 3-5 months to train.

If you plan to leave your job to start your own business, give yourself a realistic timeframe here as well. Perhaps your goal can be to build your business through 2018 and quit your job by December. The choice is ultimately yours, but be realistic so you don’t get overly frustrated.

What is Your New Year’s Resolution?

If your goal is self-improvement, you’ll find plenty of advice here at Best Life Hub. We hope you found these secrets useful, and we wish you a healthy and prosperous 2018.