New Year's is right around the corner. Not only does that mean a fresh slate, but it also means time to better yourself as a person! Every year, hundreds of thousands of Americans create at least one new year’s resolution. Yet, 80 percent of new year’s resolutions that people make fall through by February. Why be part of that 80 percent? 2018 is YOUR year! It’s time to not only make resolutions that will help you succeed, but it’s time to finally start sticking to those resolutions as well!

The top three most common new year’s resolutions are to lose weight, to quit smoking and save money.

Oddly enough, these are also the top three new year’s resolutions that get broken the quickest. It is important that you choose a resolution you truly want for yourself, you know you will stick to and will better you as a whole. If you want to really stick to your new year’s resolution this year- BE SPECIFIC!

When you are specific and detailed about your goals for 2018, you are more prone to not give up and stick to this resolution. For example, instead of just saying that you want to lose weight in 2018, set a goal!

Do you want to lose 10 pounds? Twenty? Fifty?

Whatever it may be, set a goal and a deadline that you want to reach that goal by! Sit down and write it up! Write your meal plans, how many times a week you are going to workout, and what workout plans you will be doing.

The more detailed you are with your hopes and dreams for 2018, the more likely you are to stick to it.

Of course, any resolution that helps, not harms you is a good one; but, why choose the same resolutions that everyone else does? Why keep sticking to the same one that you break every single year?

If you really want to stick to your new year’s resolution, sit down and think! What is it that you want to change about yourself this following year? Remember, the more specific you are, the better. If need be, take out a pen and paper and jot some stuff down to help get you thinking. Realize things about yourself that you want to be different in 2018.

Do you not spend enough time with your family? Do you want to branch out and see more of the world? Is there a certain talent you’ve always wanted to learn how to do? The possibilities are endless! Don’t just limit yourself to the basic resolutions. Branch out! Expand your thinking and pick a resolution that you truly feel you want or need to do for yourself.

It is definitely easier said than done to stick to your new year’s resolutions. As long as you have the right mindset, you WILL stick to it. Don’t even give yourself the option by saying “I think I'm going to stick with my resolution this year.”

Instead, say you ARE going to stick with your resolution this year, that way you really have no option.

So, how are you going to stick to these resolutions? By coming up with a resolution, and doing it with one or more people, it gives you the motivation to continue. Most people tend to break resolutions that they set alone, mainly because they have no one else to motivate them.

But, by setting these resolutions with others, it allows you to lean on one another and makes you realize that you are not alone. Another way to stick to your new year’s resolution is to be practical! Don’t make a resolution that you know you cannot do, or you know is impossible.

It will feel better at the end of 2018 to look back and know you successfully completed your smaller resolution, rather than looking back and seeing that you gave up on a bigger one. Lastly, focus on one step at a time. You aren’t going to accomplish your goals in one month; that’s why people tend to quit their resolutions.

They don’t think they could do it or don’t see any results. Resolutions take time and patience! As long as you are aware that your goals will take time to accomplish and you are patient and don’t give up, you will be thrilled when you see how far you’ve come!

That being said, think about what you might want to accomplish in 2018. Make a list of as many resolutions as you can think of. Stick to the top five, the top three, even just one--or the whole entire list! You know yourself better than anyone else and you know what is practical to accomplish and what isn’t.

Writing out a list will give you a visual of what your goals for the next year are.

Make 2018 the year you accomplish more than you ever have before!

What are your new year’s resolutions?