What to do of you've already failed at your new year resolutions

Chances are good that you’ve already decided to ditch your New Year’s resolution.

By the second week of the year, 31% of people have already abandoned their goals, and by the end of the month that number will grow to just under 50%, Fast Company reports. Keeping up with your lofty dreams of reading for an hour each night or running five days a week can be difficult, so difficult in fact that you fail, and fail hard, early in your attempt. And when that failure happens, we often decide to just give the goal up entirely rather than give it another go.

If you’re already suffering from a failed New Year’s resolution instead of ditching the dream, try reframing it.

Fast Company notes that more often than not our resolutions are for specific activities like that “running five times a week” thing rather than the larger picture. Instead of focusing on the activity component, instead, focus on what your larger goal is.

So, instead of making your resolution to run everyday, try making a goal of “getting healthier.”

Once you figure out that larger goal, make very small incremental changes to get there. Sure, you may want to run five days a week, but if you’re currently running zero then chances are good that’s not going to play out. Instead, make a goal of running once or twice a week. You’re more likely to achieve it, which will make you feel good and want to keep going, and you’re still making a change for the better.

A few months from now you can add a day or two into the mix, and by the end of the year, you might actually hit that five runs a week dream.

We’re all motivated by success. If you get discouraged early on you’re more likely to abandon your goals. But if you reach your goal, even if it’s not your ultimate one, you’ll feel good about yourself and press on.

So, if you’ve already given up on that resolution you made on January 1st, it’s not too late to still make it happen in 2018.