The excitement is tangible in the brisk night air of New York. Thousands of people gather in the streets, jockeying to get a better view of the roof of One Times Square. As the famous crystal ball begins to drop, memories of the past year, good and bad. flash through the crowd’s minds. It may cause them to wonder what the new year will hold.

At the beginning of every new year, many people make a habit of formulating at least one resolution to complete in the coming months. While every person’s yearly goals may vary, some of the most commonly seen resolutions usually regard getting healthier. Whether it be losing weight or improving their eating habits, many people view the new year as an opportunity to better themselves and their overall health. However, as the year progresses, some may find it difficult to stick to their resolutions; they find themselves procrastinating, or abandoning their aspirations entirely. Eventually, a goal that seemed entirely feasible at the beginning of the year may morph into an impossibly daunting and pointless task.

The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions has been around for quite a while; to many, it is an indispensable aspect of the holiday. Melody Case, Wellness and Youth Fitness Specialist at Akron Children’s Hospital, explained that many find themselves regretting the health choices that they made over the past several months, and hoping to start fresh by changing their habits.

“A lot of people see the New Year as a new beginning. They might be upset or not feeling as good about themselves. They may not be feeling too healthy after indulging; we had Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s all in a row,” Case said.

According to a study conducted by the University of Scranton’s Journal of Clinical Psychology, only eight percent of the people who make a resolution actually succeed in achieving it. Psychologist Dr. Sarita Bhakuni believes that most people cannot accomplish their goals because they do not see how much effort is needed in order to succeed, and that some may lose the motivation that inspired them to begin a resolution in the first place. Those trying to complete a resolution may falter as they realize the changes necessary to succeed. She spoke of the reasons behind the failure of New Year’s resolutions.

[The] point where different action is necessary is an uphill battle and the place where many people lose stamina. ‘Tomorrow’ becomes the better option because the person feels they lack the energy to do something today,” Bhakuni said.

Case expressed her opinion as to the reasons behind many failed resolutions; among other things, people may set goals that are not as feasible as they may seem. Society is brimming with quick fixes to many problems; however, weight loss, Case stresses, is not easily fixed.

“People aren’t always willing to do what it takes to reach the goals that they want to reach. A lot of times they might look for easy solutions like pills or supplements, or they start exercising and realize that it’s not easy, and they can become extremely discouraged,” Case said.

As a person is trying to complete a resolution, difficulties can often manifest themselves in one of two categories: mental or physical. Brian Parana, Owner and Marketing Director of CrossFit in Copley, expressed his opinion as to which causes more problems for those trying to successfully complete their resolutions.

“It’s totally [a] mental [mindset]. Our bodies are powerful machines that can do far more than we ever make them do. It’s far too easy to drive past the exit to go to the gym or talk yourself out of going because you have too much work or are too tired,” Parana said.

Bhakuni explained the joined effect that physical and mental hardships have on people who are trying to achieve a healthier lifestyle through their resolutions.

“[It’s] probably a combination [of both] – real life, time, effort, motivation, and fatigue. Some people believe the biggest barrier is mental but sometimes there are complications that slow you down from achieving your goals,” Bhakuni said.

The mindset a person has as he or she approaches his or her goals can be a key part to successfully completing his or her resolutions. Image, Case explained, should not be the only incentive for change: getting healthier can improve many aspects of a person’s life, including self-confidence and longevity.

“[People] need to realize that this is a lifestyle change, not a short-term fix, or else it’s never going to work….A lot of people may want to look better, but some will tell me that they want to feel better [too,] and that’s really what it’s all about: that you feel better and that you’re healthier….They need to realize that it’s a lifestyle change, but that there’s also no reason why you can’t have indulgences here and there; everything in moderation,” Case said.

As Case said, there is no easy way to change your lifestyle, and the whole process may seem intimidating to some. According to Bhakuni, making changes to one’s habits is not easy, and is anything but permanent to the unmotivated participant. People should show dedication to their resolutions by setting concrete goals and plans for success.

“The key to success and persistence is presence. Presence of mind and self awareness that you are being deliberate in your choices and that things don’t just ‘happen to you,’ but everything you do, there is some element of choice. Physical and mental health is a process, especially if it is something you haven’t always had in your life or actively pursued,” Bhakuni said.

Bhakuni also spoke of what those trying to get healthy should avoid in order to accomplish their resolutions. Bhakuni believes that being in a non-supportive environment-social or otherwise-can be cause for resolutions to fall through, and suggests that those attempting to succeed focus on their goals.

“Try not to set yourself up to fail…. Remind yourself that you are doing this for you, not anybody else…. Remember that you might slip here or there, but the important thing is to keep moving forward, instead of throwing the towel in and saying ‘forget it’,” Bhakuni said.

While changing your lifestyle can be a challenge, there are some things people can do to make achieving their resolutions a little easier. Case suggested several tips, one of which being to start a food diary.

“When you’re making some sort of plan for yourself for weight loss or to become healthier, you need to see what you’re taking in and you need to see what you’re putting out.… Also, think about your [upcoming] week, and write down your weekly schedule. See where you might be able to fit in ten minutes of exercise three to four times a week,” Case said.

Case also warns against trying to progress too quickly, which could expose those trying to get healthy to unwelcome temptations, including trigger foods. Trigger foods, Case explains, are foods that people “tend to overindulge in,” which in turn may ruin healthy eating habits.

“It’s important to have a starting place, because if you’re overloaded, if it’s too much at once, you won’t stick to it…. If you’re looking to change your eating habits, I suggest that you look in your cabinets and refrigerator and [try to] not have your trigger foods around…. So a big first step would be to get your trigger foods out of the house, or [replace] them with a healthier choice that you’re still happy with…. Also, [oftentimes] people need constant reminders as to why they’re doing this. Maybe put [your motivators] on a post-it on your bathroom mirror or on your fridge so that you have some sort of visual [reminder],” Case said.

Parana also shared a tip to make getting healthier more enjoyable.

“Do something you love. When you really enjoy the activities you pick to get healthy, it’s so much easier to keep up the hard work,” Parana said.

While New Year’s resolutions are often seen as an opportunity for change, Case stressed that lifestyle changes can and should start any day of the year.

“I really think that it doesn’t necessarily take a New Year to make changes in your life…. You should really think about it any time; now is the time. What’s most important to you should be the way you feel and the way you live. Every day is a new day, and if you’re looking to change your lifestyle or eating habits, or start to exercise, there’s no better time than right now,” Case said.

As 2014 begins, many may aspire to change throughout the new year, whether it be health related or not. The task may seem difficult at times; however, people must remember that any goal worth reaching usually requires both time and effort. Staying motivated and dedicated to the desired change can lead to a successful resolution and, hopefully, a happy new year.