TUESDAY, Dec. 31, 2013 (HealthDay News) -- You'll be more likely to stick to your New Year's resolutions if you establish realistic and achievable goals, an expert suggests.
Too many people try to do too much too fast and set unattainable goals, which simply sets them up for failure, according to Luis Manzo, executive director of student wellness and assessment at St. John's University in New York.
"There is no sense in making a resolution to wake up every morning at 5 a.m. and run five miles if you know you are not a morning person and you have never run more than a mile in your life. Such a goal will just demoralize you when you are unable to stick to it," he said in a university news release.
"Rather, play to your strengths, select goals that you can do and that work for you," Manzo suggested. "Maybe a more realistic goal is running after work for 20 minutes two days during the week and once on the weekend for 25 minutes. Start small, build your confidence and your motivation will skyrocket."
He offered a number of other suggestions to help you stick with your resolutions, including:
More information
The U.S. General Services Administration offers tips for sticking with popular New Year's resolutions.