Most New Year's resolutions fail in January

Fairfax Media

HELPING HAND: Having trouble keeping those New Year's resolutions going after the 1st of January? Here's some tips to increase your chances of success.

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Most people abandon their New Year's resolutions before the end of January, an Australian academic says, but he's got some tips to increase the chance of success.

Swinburne University of Technology associate professor Roger Cook says the key to changing behaviour is to set goals that are "specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely".

People must also pay due attention to the psychological drivers behind bad habits, says Dr Cook, the director of the Melbourne-based university's psychology clinic.

"If your resolution is to lose weight, it is important to focus on the psychological factors that can lead to weight gain," he says.

"Diet plans, weight loss programs and exercise regimes typically do not address the psychological factors behind eating behaviour (such as binge eating), which can also be associated with depression and lowered self-esteem."

Dr Cook says it's important for people to realise they'll likely have a "slip up" and they should have a plan to get back on track if that occurs.

- AAP