Most Common Goals
Starting with the most popular, the top five resolutions the survey revealed for teens were to lose weight, do something for personal development— such as learn a new skill or overcome shyness— do better in school, get more exercise and kick a bad habit— such as quit smoking or cutting class.

Making It Happen
To reach a goal, it helps to have a plan with specific steps. It also helps to tell your goal to someone you trust; supportive friends and family members come in handy when your willpower does a couch potato act.

Do people really make plans and ask for support? Or, do they just wing it? According to the resolution survey, it’s a bit of both. Fifty-five percent of teen survey-takers said they make specific plans, but 45 percent said they just let things happen. And while 49 percent shared their resolutions with someone else, 51 percent preferred to keep their resolutions private.

The teens who plan and share their goals gave lots of tips on making resolutions work. Kyla, 13, says, “I make plans about eating and exercising, and I plan what I am going to do when I reach my desired weight. I encourage myself every day.” Anne, 16, says, “I look at a sheet of paper where I have written down all of my dreams.” Sarah, 14, says, “I make a list because I like to tick things off when I get them done, and I feel guilty when I’m not able to tick them off, so it keeps me on track.” Jasmine, 17, says, “I go to the gym with my sister.” Kaylee, 14, says she gets support from “talking to my boyfriend and him telling me that he is really proud of me.”

Loved ones can help you stick with a goal or make a change. However, what about the people who just pretend to care? Ondrea, 13, says, “Friends can also be a bad influence.” She told us she needs to stay away from the people she hung out with in the past if she’s going to keep her New Year’s resolution.

. . . or Not Making It Happen
The fact that many people forfeit resolutions is one reason why 23 percent of KidsHealth survey-takers said they don’t make any resolutions at all. “I wouldn’t be able to keep the resolution,” says Maritza, 18. “I never do.”

Staying Positive
Although some people give up, the survey shows that most teens are definitely not quitters. An impressive 92 percent of respondents remain on target to meet their goals. What’s even more impressive is that more than a third of respondents say they slipped up, but got back on track. That’s hard to do. When people stray from their goals, it’s tempting to give up altogether. But slipups are actually part of the learning process. Congratulations to everyone who recognized this and recommitted to resolutions.

Optimism brings success. And success can help people stay motivated to keep going. Tiffany, 17, made a resolution to get more exercise because she was feeling out of shape. She said, “After one week of staying on track, I realized I felt energized, slept better, and my confidence went up.” According to the survey, Tiffany remains confident that she will continue exercising.

Recognizing small successes is one motivator for people trying to stick with a resolution. Here are some other things that keep teens motivated: “I play soccer a lot with my friends and that motivates me, especially when I’m losing,” says Yusra, 13. “Also, I play with my Dad and his friends, and they are really big and strong, so that drives me to do better.” Nick, 14, is already good at football. He could stop there, but he wants to push himself to get even better. To improve his skills he says, “I watch my old tapes every day.” Brigid, 15, made a resolution to get into her school’s spring musical. “Since this is my first year in high school, it was harder to get in,” she said. “I practiced my audition piece a lot and did my best at the tryouts.” Brigid’s work paid off— she made it into the play!

Taking inspiration from someone else also motivates many teens. Many survey respondents talked about looking up to someone who had accomplished a goal. One 13-year-old girl yearning to lose weight to manage her diabetes said, “I picture my Aunt because she had diabetes and did it, so I can do it too.”

A 13-year-old respondent intent on overcoming a cutting problem said, “Cutting is a bad habit that is hard to break. I try to think about what my school guidance counselor told me and how much my teachers and counselor care.”

When Times Are Tough
Some teen survey takers said they had been hospitalized for eating disorders, depression and attempted suicide. One 14-year-old girl said she’s motivated to work to fix her problems because “I don’t want to end up back in the hospital or dead.”

If things are extremely tough, making a resolution to change often isn’t enough. It can be hard to stay motivated when you attempt the goal alone. People with serious problems generally need help from friends and family members. Dana and Tina (not their real names) are two 14-year-old friends who resolved to share the resolution experience. Dana revealed her resolution is to “keep helping my friend [Tina] in rehab for an eating disorder and to get her out and keep her healthy when she is ready.”

Tina disclosed how it happened: “I had a really bad smoking and drinking habit, and I suffer from an eating disorder. I decided I wanted to become healthy, but it was hard so I stopped trying and kept starving myself, smoking and drinking... It was my best friend who caught me forcing myself to throw up. She is my life saver,” says Tina. “Thanks to her I have already achieved one step in my goal. I admitted I have a problem and got help.”

If you’re struggling with some heavy problems, admitting them and reaching out to a friend for help is the first step to recovery. Sometimes friends even see problems before a troubled person is ready to recognize them. If you’re feeling too depressed that you can’t motivate to change, then talk to someone. And listen when a friend like Dana gets up the nerve to talk to you about your troubles.

Focus On Accomplishments
If you’ve made a resolution that’s difficult to maintain, perhaps focus on the little things you achieve, rather than what you’ve done wrong or when you slip up.
Tell yourself how much better you feel by committing to a resolution. Like Ariel, 14, who says, “I think of how much healthier I’m eating and how eating an apple instead of a piece of cake makes you feel better.” Or Alexis, 13, who says, “When I cut down ‘media’ time and go for a run, to the gym, or play outside, I feel refreshed and healthy.”
Give yourself rewards, like Anna, 13, who stays motivated to get schoolwork and studying done because “afterwards I can use the Internet and watch TV.”
Most of all, take it easy on yourself. “Just take it one day at a time, then a week, then a month— and then it will be a year!,” says Katherine, 13.

Change Comes More Than Once A Year
New Year’s Eve isn’t the only time to make a change for the better. Quite a few teens make resolutions anytime they feel like it. “I believe that people can make a resolution and change their life any day of the year if they want,” says Tanya, 15. “It doesn’t have to be on New Year’s.”

Jamie, 16, says, “I’m continually making goals. When I need to make a change, I do it— I won’t wait for a new year to make my life different.”

And if you’re happy with how things are at the moment and can’t think of anything you want to work on, celebrate yourself!

“I didn’t make a New Year’s resolution,” says Arielle, 13, “because I am happy how my life is.”

KidsHealth is one of the largest online resources for medically reviewed health information written for parents, kids and teens. Visit www.kidshealth.org or www.teenshealth.org for more articles like this one.