Old resolution: I can do it all—eat better, lose weight, and start exercising.

This resolution may sound good, but it “is a high bar for most people to achieve,” says Melinda M. Manore, PhD, RD, professor of nutrition and exercise sciences at Oregon State University. If your goals are too lofty, you’ll have trouble accomplishing them, and you’re likely to give up, she says.

Makeover: Focus on one or two areas and team up with a weight-loss companion—a friend, relative, or personal trainer—who will make sure you stick to the plan. “It is much easier to go for a walk every day at 6 a.m. if you know a friend is waiting for you,” Manore says.