With the beginning of a new year comes the beginning of new resolutions. While some of the resolutions of 2013 may have gone unresolved, this year presents new opportunities to accomplish those goals that were once set aside. However, many individuals may find that enduring through a year-long process of self-improvement is an obstacle in itself. According to a recent study conducted by the University of Scranton, of the 40 percent of Americans who do create resolutions, only 8 percent of them actually achieve their goals. So why does following through with resolutions seem to be so challenging? In order to make carrying out goals less difficult, there are several measures one can take:

1. Be realistic

The common problem   people often encounter is the excessive idealism of their resolutions. Instead of setting realistic short-term goals, individuals tend to create long-term goals that are often too difficult to achieve immediately. Rather than working toward becoming the CEO of a mega-corporation or breaking the world record of a superstar athlete, people should focus on smaller steps that will eventually lead up to their ultimate goal.

2. Be focused

In this age, many distractions, most notably technological ones, can keep people from reaching their objectives. If Twitter, Instagram or some other social networking distraction continues to be an obstacle in following through with resolutions, it is essential that the obstacle must be eliminated. On another note, eliminating a distraction is not equivalent to an individual simply promising himself that he will stay away from it. Procrastinators might find programs like Cold Turkey for Windows (getcoldturkey.com) and SelfControl  for Mac (selfcontrolapp.com) helpful, since they can block distracting websites for a certain period of time and can’t be turned off. If smartphones are the problem, there is always the option of surrendering them to parents.

3. Be motivated

Even if a person sets realistic goals and remains focused, it is often difficult to accomplish those resolutions if he or she is unmotivated. The key factor in making 2014 a promising year is to find something that one can work for. Whether the motivation may be for family and friends, a feeling of accomplishment or even earning enough money to buy the latest technology, finding an incentive can increase an individual’s chances of achieving success.

4. Be persistent

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” It is not abnormal for one to fail at his first attempt. For instance, Michael Jordan, a legend in basketball, was first rejected when he tried out for his high school varsity basketball team, as he was deemed too short. However, after training vigorously and displaying high performance on the junior varsity team, Jordan later earned himself a spot on the varsity team roster. Jordan is among a number of public figures who initially failed at achieving their resolutions but later found success. Giving up will ultimately lead a person nowhere.