We’ve all been there: creating resolutions for the new year that don’t make it past the first few weeks. According to USA Today, most Americans give up on their resolutions by Jan. 17.

We all know how easy it is to give up on a goal after some time. In order to stay with your goal, you need to set strong habits to keep you in check.

Once working towards your resolution becomes a habit, you are almost guaranteed to keep your resolution.

The most common goals revolve around health. According to SAS Blogs, over 50% of those surveyed set goals to exercise more, with losing weight as a close second.

So how do you keep your resolution? And how do you turn it into a habit?

Include your goal in your workspace

Wherever you spend most of your time, keep a symbolic object representing your goal in front of you. For example, if one of your resolutions is to learn how to play the guitar, keep the guitar in your room, so you will see your guitar more often and be reminded of your resolution.

Be consistent

Work toward your goal regularly. The more consistent you are, the stronger of a habit you will build. Schedule just a little bit of time every day dedicated to your goal. Or if your goal is to change an aspect of your lifestyle (ex. eating healthier), then make sure you incorporate these changes into your daily routine. You build a habit by being consistent.

Set reasonable (and specific) resolutions

The more specific your goal, the better.

You want your goal to be achievable, and within reach. If you have not had a great history in keeping resolutions before, then set a smaller resolution that can be achieved normally in a few months or less.

For example, if your goal is to lose weight, then be more specific. How much weight do you want to lose? When do you want to lose it by? How do you plan to lose weight?

After you narrow down your resolution, then set up a game plan with milestones.

Make achievable steps along the way

Milestones not only make your goal easier to achieve, but also make you feel like you achieved more. Break up your goal into smaller steps and aim for the smaller goals. Once you meet one of your smaller goals, reward yourself.

For example, if your resolution is to read 25 books by the end of the year, once you’ve read 10 books, give yourself a reward.

Remember why you set your goal

And finally, if you just feel discouraged about your goal, remember why you set it in the first place. Find ways to motivate yourself, and just keep pushing through. If you continue to put forth effort, you will keep your resolution for the year.

The more effort you put toward your resolution, the more likely you will finish your resolution. The Warrior Word wishes you a happy new year and the best of luck with your resolutions!