New Year’s Resolutions are an awesome tradition to refocus on making healthy food and activity choices. Unfortunately, most resolutions fizzle out before you get to enjoy any of the benefits of a healthier lifestyle. So what can you do to make your New Year’s Resolutions stick? Keep reading for secrets on how to set and keep your New Year’s Resolutions.

Commit to change

For starters, set a resolution that you truly, passionately want to achieve. Find what motivates you on a deep, emotional level. It might be getting in shape so that you can keep up with your kids’ boundless energy, it might be cooking at home in order to bond as a family, or drinking more water to be a good role model for your kids who always want sugary drinks. This is not to suggest that better health or looking and feeling good aren’t excellent reasons to make a healthy change. Rather, these motivators are what will keep you going when you feel like skipping or stopping.

Change the things you can

Many people set goals that focus too much on end results instead of the process. As much as losing weight is a popular resolution, it’s not a great goal to set. Our weight is influenced by so many different factors and some of these are beyond our control (genes, diseases, medications, etc.). That’s why goals that focus on your behaviors, not outcomes, are more effective. Getting 8 hours of sleep each night, being physically active for at least 20 minutes every day, and cooking a healthy meal each day are all things you can control that lead to better health.

Make a plan

Take your resolution idea and turning it into a SMART goal. “Getting in shape” is a resolution. “Walking for 20 minutes six days a week after work at the mall” is a SMART goal. SMART goals spell out exactly what you’re working towards, the more detailed the better! Take time each week to review your progress and tweak the plan as needed.

Work through barriers

We all start out with good intentions on January 1st, but then life happens. Small disruptions can derail the best-laid plans. To help keep on track, think about possible barriers you may encounter and make a plan B for these situations. At some point, you get home late and don’t have time for the meal you planned to cook at home. What other options can you have to still eat a healthy meal at home with your family? Maybe it’s prepping a few frozen meals ahead of time or keeping ingredients for your go-to quick and easy meal in your Better Pantry. If you can brainstorm these options before you face the barrier, you’re more likely to keep your resolutions.

Monitor (and reward) progress

As mentioned above, check in with your resolutions on a regular basis. You’ll be able to track progress towards your goal and start to see trends with recurring barriers that need to be worked through. As you hit milestones along the way, reward yourself! Making a lifestyle change is hard work, so rewards can keep you motivated along the way. Celebrate with a relaxing bubble bath after three months of meeting your exercise goals, or buy a new water bottle after drinking 8 cups a day.

Now that you have these secrets for successful holiday resolutions, share what your New Year’s Resolution ideas are!