Recharged resolutions

Are you one of those people who makes a New Year's resolution, but can't seem to stick with it? Maybe you're taking the wrong approach.

Clinical psychologist Mark Crawford of Atlanta, Georgia, has some tips that might keep you from falling off the wagon.

1) Be specific. State a specific goal. For example: If you want to lose weight, start with 10 pounds at a time.

2) Get real. Be sure to set a realistic goal. Very few people will be able to lose 50 pounds or more in a year.

3) Step by step. Come up with a plan for achieving your goal. For instance, if you're going to start an exercise program, decide how many times a week you'll work out.

4) The clock is ticking. Set a realistic time frame. It might be hard to stick with a resolution for an entire year, so why not start with two weeks and see how you're doing?

Crawford says if you stay on track for four to six weeks you have a pretty good chance of sticking with your goal and succeeding.

Judy Fortin's Health Minute segment runs daily on Headline News from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET weekdays.