By Lucia Rossi

A New Year’s Resolution is a promise you make at the beginning of a new year in the hope of improving yourself in some way.

This promise is a personal goal you set for yourself and can hopefully accomplish. According to the University of Scranton, 40% of Americans make resolutions but only 8% of us achieve them.

Remember, a new year is a clean slate. So no matter what your track record, take this opportunity to change for the better on your own volition. After all, it is not about pleasing others, it is about pleasing yourself and showing yourself what you’re made of.

Whether it’s getting physically healthier, mentally healthier, improving your finances, your spirituality, your career, your education, or your lifestyle, show yourself what you can do. Even if it’s something small like laughing more, volunteering to help others, taking a trip, making new friends, or learning a new skill. Know what you want and keep your eyes on the prize.

Saying you’re going to change is easy, sustaining the change is what’s difficult. Don’t set yourself up for failure from the start by overloading yourself with pressure and deprivation. Sustaining change is not about your behavior it’s about your mindset. In order to do that, that you have to trick yourself into believing that what you’re doing is not so much different than what you are used to, so you don’t psych yourself out.

Change should be a slow and gradual thing. Don’t expect to get instant gratification overnight and do try to plan ahead for whatever you think you may feel and how you will handle it. If you try to change too abruptly, you’re going to burn yourself out and end up quitting. You need to acclimate your body and mind into whatever your goal is. Dip your toes into the pool first then continue, don’t just jump in.

This way you’re more likely to get used to whatever change you are making. Like if you plan on working out more, start yourself with easy beginner level work outs and then gradually start to turn it into a more challenging work out with more advanced routines over time. Everyone should start at the beginning and not the end.

In order to keep pushing yourself to improve as the year goes on, you must build your on belief system. Give yourself some sort of reward for accomplishing part of your goal or a task to give yourself further incentive. You need to keep a positive attitude and a strong focus. Tell your friends and family what you’re going to do so that they support you and maybe even join you. If you believe you will reach your goal, then you will. Most people quit their resolutions because they think they can’t go through with it, but if you believe it, it will come. Mind over matter, my friends.

Motivation and some hard work is key. Don’t feel hopeless if you think that what you’re doing isn’t working. There are different methods you can try, you just need to find what works for you. This can apply to everything from quitting a bad habit, to losing weight, or making a lifestyle change.

If you’re not sure what you New Year’s Resolution should be, try something universal like cutting the stress in your life. Everyone has stress. The less stress you have, the more physically and mentally healthy you will be. It’s a win-win.

In my opinion, the easiest and most simple New Year’s Resolution you can make to yourself is to just be happy (or happier). Look around you and take a moment to feel grateful for what you have. Allow yourself to feel pride in the things you have and will accomplish in 2015. Feel that contentment and give that happiness to others too.

Have a Happy New Year!