Nearly two-thirds of Americans make New Year's resolutions, but few achieve them.

Why is it so difficult to stay on target?  Experts say more often than not, we don't have the willpower – even though resolutions usually revolve around our own health and well-being.

According to Dr. Kenneth Finch, a Panama City-based licensed mental health counselor, change often requires an attitude adjustment.  "If we have a positive attitude about the changes, we're probably going to be achieving those in a healthy way," Dr. Finch said.

A recent Harris Poll identified the following as the most common resolutions:

• Lose weight.
• Improve finances.
• Exercise.
• Get a new job.
• Eat healthier.
• Manage stress better.
• Stop smoking.
• Improve a relationship.
• Stop procrastinating.
• Set aside time for yourself.

Dr. Finch said people often make resolutions without thinking them through or set unrealistic goals.  "We usually tell folks to take one step at a time [and] take one goal at a time because it's a real setup if we try to make too many changes too quickly," he said.

According to a recent University of Scranton study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, less than half of New Year's resolutions last beyond six months.  Nearly 90% of all resolutions end in failure.

Success requires a commitment to a "smart" goal, Finch said.  "A smart goal means it needs to be specific, it needs to be measurable, it needs to be achievable, it needs to be recordable and it needs to be time based," Finch said.

Getting in shape, eating healthier or quitting smoking can be easier if you tell others about your goal, write down your objectives, set target dates and conduct weekly reviews of your progress.

Dr. Finch said failure to follow through on resolutions is no reason to give up.  "If you don't succeed, back up and take another look," he said.  "Talk to friends, talk to family, talk to professionals about ways to maximize your ability for success."