by Lindsay Weiss posted in Life

Did you know only 8 percent of people keep their resolutions" I knew the number would be low, but man...that?s pretty pitiful.
I?ve spent decades making a singular New Year?s resolution, some more carefully thought than others, and have kept roughly half of them. In most schools, that 50 percent would earn me a big, fat F but in the school of New Year's Resolutions...apparently I?m a friggin? rock star.
My secret is simple. You have to be specific. Detailed. Avoid generalizations. Aim for the achievable and move up from there. It is so much easier to nail your resolution and expand on it than it is to fail.
Let?s take a look at one of the most common resolutions and I?ll edit it show you what I mean.
Resolution: GET IN SHAPE! This one is waaaaaaaay too broad; it?s no wonder only 8 percent of people achieve it. First, it has to be broken down into two separate things, exercise and diet, and then made even more specific from there.
1. Exercise: How much" What type" For how long" Many of my resolutions have been exercise related, but I have much more success when my resolution is more specific and attainable. For example (pick one):

? Get 10,000 steps per day

? Do 20 push-ups and 50 sit-ups every single day

? Get heart rate up to 130 for 20 minutes, four days per week

? Attend boxing class three days per week
2. Diet: Will you follow a specific plan" Just cut out certain foods" Count calories" Cheat days&q...