Resolutions to lose weight, get in shape, quit smoking, eat healthier or dozens of other habits that the resolution maker has decided need to get made.

Then sometime in the days, weeks or if one is persistent, months ahead, the resolution falls by the wayside.

Dr. Josh Mason, with Active Health Clinics, has seen those resolutions come, and go, in the many patients he works with.

“It’s a process,” he said. “You need to figure out why they want to do this. The more powerful the why the more likely they are to succeed.”

He said it works best if the person makes realistic goals where they can measure their success along the way.

“Each goal needs to be small,” he said.

He uses the acronym SMART.

“They need to be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and have a timeline,” he said.

He suggests their goals be written down and that the person wanting to make changes not bite off too big of a chunk.

“Don’t try to change 15 aspects of your life at one time,” he said. “Change one thing then another.”

He said that applies regardless of what the person wants to change.

Easy does it, but do it.

“The most important thing is consistency,” he said. “It’s not always the type of exercise or diet, but the consistency. Actually going to the gym is half the battle.”

He also urges people not to give up if they lose track of their goal for a day or two or even weeks. It doesn’t have to be the new year to start working on a goal again, any day will do.

He also cautions people not to overdo it.

“Don’t do too much too soon,” he said. “You can’t sustain that many changes.”

Learning what to do in the gym, and as importantly, how to do it correctly, is also part of the process.

“Seek out a professional,” he said. “At our gym we try to provide as much attention as people want.”