A new year is a great time to make a fresh start.

Whether you want to lose weight, quit smoking, run a marathon or start a savings account, now seems to be the time when people decide to really make a go at their goals.

Research has shown that after six months, fewer than half the people who make New Year's resolutions are still succeeding, and, after a year, that number declines to around 10 percent.

Other research reports that some simple strategies can help us stick with our New Year's resolutions. Setting specific goals, sharing our resolutions with others and focusing on the benefits of achieving the resolution can be helpful, according to a Psychology Today article.