Many people abandon their resolutions on January 17, and Dr Daniel Farrelly, principal lecturer in psychology at the University of Worcester, has some advice to help people stick to them.
Dr Farrelly said: “The key to sticking to any resolutions is to make them a habit.
“That will ensure that any tasks we aim to do become almost autonomous and require little planning or thought.”
He added that forming habits can be challenging, but making resolutions realistic and easy to stick to can help.
He also suggests making resolutions ‘conventional’.
He said: “It’s useful to make your resolutions ‘conventional’, so you can do them at a set time of day.
“For instance, go for a midmorning walk, or drink a glass of water every few hours, and that way you can set a reminder or alarm to help you.”
Sharing your resolutions with those around you is another tip.
Dr Farrelly said: “Let those close to you know your plans, and get them to support you, as that will help make these habits stick.”
Finally, he reminds people that nobody is perfect and that it’s okay to slip up.
He said: “A really important thing to remember is that none of us are perfect, and we won’t always stick to the resolutions, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you do slip up.”
For more information about courses at the University of Worcester, people can visit the university’s website or contact its admissions team.