It happens to a lot of people. Every year, the winter holidays pass and the New Year comes. It’s then that resolutions are made and, inevitably, broken shortly after. Whether your resolution is to drop those few extra holiday pounds, stop smoking or start spending more time and energy on others, actually putting those resolutions into action, particularly in the aftermath of the holiday frenzy and the cold months of January and February, can be much tougher. If you’re looking to hold true to your resolutions, here a few simple rules to help you put your plan into action.

The best way to make sure you keep your resolutions is to be realistic and have a good plan. You can’t expect to hold a resolution you make at 11:59 on New Year’s Eve through the rest of the year. If you are serious about your resolution, set a reasonable goal. You probably won’t be able to go from no exercise to an hour a day. It’s much more reasonable you will be able to incorporate 20 minutes every day. Instead of quitting smoking, set a realistic goal of reducing how much you smoke. It’s also a good idea to set a time limit on your resolution, say three months. If, after the end of that three months, you’ve accomplished your goals, there’s no reason not to make another resolution.

Make a plan for how you will accomplish your goals. If you want to save more money in the coming year, take a good, hard look at your finances and decide where that money is going to come from. Going to give up that Friday latte? Start eating at home more? This definition of your plan will benefit your implementation later on. Because old habits die hard, you may be tempted to skip that new class or indulge yourself with that latte. Use part of your plan to figure out how you’ll resist that temptation.

Humans are social creatures, so talking to others about your plan can be a great asset. They can keep you on track and check on your progress. Better yet, find a group of people that will all head to the gym at the same time and serve as a kind of mutual support network. That way, you can hold each other accountable. Often resolutions are about denying ourselves something we like, but there’s no reason not to celebrate your success from time to time. Planning these moments to mark significant benchmarks, like losing 10 pounds, can keep you focused on the grander goals.

Changing your life takes time. It takes at least three weeks to grow accustomed to new activities, and it will take much longer, as long as six months, for that activity to really be integrated. There will probably be times when you fail, but the important element is to get back up, recommit yourself to your goals and start again. The best way to have success is to ensure your success. If you are consistently meeting reasonable goals, you will be more likely to continue.