2016 is behind us, and with the new year comes the hopes for many to develop positive change. New Year's resolutions don't usually seem to stick, though. We've all heard the jokes about how the gym seems crowded for only the first month of the year, or how diets just can't seem to last very long. How can you make a resolution stick?

Set Realistic Goals

If you're serious about making a change, this is the most important part. What kind of investment, be it money, time, or something else, will your resolution require on your part? Create a tangible goal to reach, as opposed to an arbitrary or vague milestone. This will make progress easier to track, and will keep your motivation to continue up.

Some goals may be additive, like going to the gym, in that they will be another thing to add to your schedule. Others may involve reducing or eliminating a habit or behavior. Either way, the more specific (but not complicated!) your plan will be, the easier it will be to adhere to it.

Find a Habituating Method That Works For You

Studies have shown that the development or breaking of a habit takes 49 days. Therefore, making that New Year's resolution is only so hard for those first 49 days.

I personally feel satisfied when I cross things off of my To Do list. In order to keep up with my habits, I will set an alarm at a time to do the things that take up significant amounts of time. Others may not feel like they have the self-discipline to do this without a little help. Have a roommate or close friend pester you whenever you're falling behind.

Or, if laziness isn't so much of an issue as a lack of motivation is, you can always find some here. Reminding yourself why you've taken up your resolution will help motivate you to complete your goals.

Okay, I've established a plan. What else?

Make sure you're rewarding yourself! Keeping up with your goals doesn't have to be a chore. There are plenty of ways to treat yourself for staying on target. If you're trying to stay active each day, you could take a day on the weekend and go hiking instead of going back to the gym like every day. If you're dieting, it's actually perfectly normal and even encouraged to have a scheduled cheat day.

Also, if you've found that you're struggling, or perhaps you didn't manage to accomplish a goal. That's okay! People choose New Years Day to make resolutions, but the truth is that you can wake up and choose to improve yourself on any day of the year. After a little reflection, and perhaps more planning, you can get back to it.