One of the most common traditions at the start of a new year is to make resolutions or goals you want to accomplish. According to an article by Business Insider, approximately 80% of resolutions fail by the second week of February. So what’s the trick to succeeding? Experts say, make your resolutions realistic and attainable to increase your chances of keeping them further into the year.

Below are some tips we found to help you stick to your resolutions.

Start small
Moderation is key to anything you do. Try setting benchmarks and work from there. If your goal is to eat healthier, try replacing dessert with a healthy option that you enjoy. Experts say it takes 21 days to make a new habit. Tackle one goal at a time and remind yourself of the positive impact achieving your goal will have on your life.

Take it one step at a time
Say you’ve made a goal to put $500 in your savings this year, but you’re not great at saving. Rather than putting that entire amount back at one time, opt to save a smaller amount each day. Evaluate where you are each week or month and adjust accordingly. Write that goal in a visible place with your reason of setting that goal in the first place. For example, I want to save $500 in order to become more financially stable. Slowly increase your goal from the previous day or week and before you know it, you’ve met your resolution!

Talk about it
Sharing your experiences, struggles or successes helps make the task at hand less intimidating, therefore easier to accomplish. Check your local community center for support groups or even group classes, depending on what your goal is and help each other succeed. Online social media support groups are also an option you can utilize. Sometimes talking through your struggles can help you gain a different perspective.

Don’t beat yourself up
Brownies are delicious, we know this. Don’t give up completely because cheated on your diet or chose a night out instead of saving that extra money. The most important thing is to resolve to recover from the set back and get back on track the next day. Celebrate your successes and focus on what you’ve done well.

Ask for help
Let’s use the example from earlier and say your resolution is to save more money, but you aren’t a good financial planner. It is perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed. You are stepping out of your comfort zone with virtually any resolution. It’s perfectly normal to have questions or need advice. Reach out to those you trust and ask for tips and best practices to help you achieve your goal.