Just eight 8 percent of people achieve their new year’s resolutions, according to University of Scranton research. The reason for this failure is many people use the new year as an opportunity to attempt extreme makeovers, whether professional or personal. However, the average person has so many competing priorities that this type of approach is doomed to failure. According to a recent survey, 22 percent of people who set new goals for themselves this year have slipped up a few times already.

Kelly Walsh, 20-year human resource veteran, president of 1SmartLife and author of the Teeter Totter Conundrum, provides these seven strategies to snap out of your second-month slump and to you keep moving forward on goals any time of the year:

1. Take it one step at a time. I’m all in favor of the Big Hairy Audacious Goal, but break it down into do-able, bite-sized parts. Want to run a marathon? Start with a regular walking schedule. Looking to transform eating patterns? Identify and then tackle them, one by one.

2. Add good, not just take away bad. You’re seeking change for positive reasons; reinforce that direction by adopting similarly themed actions. For example, instead of going cold turkey cutting out soda, add drinking 8 glasses of water a day first. Feeling more hydrated will make you feel better ~ and likely help you kick the cola habit.

3. Establish a rewards system. The credit card companies already know this ~ we’ll work harder for the chance to earn points. Design a scheme to win credits for prizes that are meaningful to you, upping the ante for every target level achieved. How about a pedicure when you’ve worked out a three weeks straight, a day at the spa when you’ve managed it for three months?

4. Track it. Writing down daily activities related to your goal will measure your progress, including when key milestones are reached.

5. Find an “accountability partner.” This person doesn’t have to be a close friend, or even striving for the same exact goal. Simply pairing up with anyone with similar objectives will provide key social support, as well as spur a little healthy competition.

6. Expect setbacks. No one’s perfect; progress towards a goal is rarely a straight line. Don’t let one misstep cause you to drop everything and derail all that you’ve achieved.

7. Keep celebrating. Recognize that every decision you make towards your goal is worthy of a pat on the back.