The fourth week of 2024 is coming to a close and already the crowds of newcomers in the local gyms have thinned and the lunchtime drive-thru lines at fast food restaurants have regained much of their length.

New Year’s resolutions, while well intentioned, often fail to develop into the healthy habits they are adopted to create. Whether it’s eating healthier, exercising more or stopping smoking, roughly 80% of New Year’s resolutions end up abandoned, according to the American Psychological Association.

So why are resolutions so hard to maintain? One reason may be that many people aim too high.

The APA states the more realistic the resolutions, the more likely it is people will be able to stick to them. Choosing resolutions that focus on particular behaviors and introducing small changes are the easiest ways to make the lasting change resolutions are made to be.

Instead of launching head-on into a grueling 7-day per week workout regimen that is unsustainable with even the most flexible of schedules, aim to exercise three or four days per week, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or commit to walking more.

The APA also suggests sharing resolutions with friends or family. Support groups and fitness classes can also be good places to find like-minded people to share the ups and downs.

Finally, the APA reminds resolutioners to cut themselves some slack. Not every workout will be perfect. Not every diet goes according to plan. Life happens, and getting to the gym or finding a healthy meal isn’t always possible.

Too often that cheat meal turns into guilt, and skipping a workout leads to self-deprecation. The “failure” to live up to our fantastical expectations can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety making it even more difficult to pick back up the next day. In other instances, the need to “make up” for the lost progress can lead to injuries, unhealthy relationships with food or even larger problems down the line.

One missed workout doesn’t wipe out the prior week’s progress, and a slice of birthday cake or some late night chicken fingers doesn’t mean an entire diet was all for naught. The healthy habits so many of us want our New Year’s resolutions to be are built by consistency and time.

Whether your New Year’s resolutions are going strong or long gone, there’s no time like the present to review and recommit to reaching your goals in 2024. Just make allowances for those times when things don’t always go according to plan and give yourself some slack to deal with the unexpected.