How to Achieve Your New Year's Resolutions Step by Step

When a new year rolls around (hello 2011!), too often we set our New Year's Resolutions with such high expectations that we're devastated when we fall short. Quirkology.com studied New Year's Resolutions and found that 52% of participants were confident of success when they made their resolutions, but a year later only 12% actually achieved their goal(s).

We're here to change those stats. "Focus on realistic goals with measurable results," says Jill RachBeisel, M.D., director of Community Psychiatry at the University of Maryland Medical Center and associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "You need to break things down into small steps that you can manage."

The following slides tackle the list of the most common resolutions in the US, as provided by USA.gov. Click through to learn how to meet your New Year's Resolutions in 2011!

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Old Resolution: Drink Less Alcohol

New Resolution: Change the Way I Drink Alcohol
Try these three simple steps to change the way you drink alcohol and ultimately drink less:

Create new patterns: meet a friend for a walking date or shopping instead of drinks.
When you do drink, moderate. Swear off shots (they get you drunk faster, which lowers your inhibitions, often causing you to drink more) and resolve to drink a glass of water between every drink. The lack of a hangover the following morning will help motivate you to stay the course.
View setbacks as lessons for growth. If you go on a drinking bender or even just drink a little too much one evening, ask yourself what kept you from achieving your goal. Use your insight to try to make corrections. It’s like sailing—you don’t go from point A to point B; you set a course and periodically take readings of your position, making adjustments as you go along.