Keeping Your New Year’s Resolution

Here's the audio of the story that aired during Morning Edition 12.30.2013.

Some of you might be like Sekou Mann. The New York native says he’s never kept a New Year’s resolution.

“I think they’re meant to be broken,” Mann said.

It’s gotten to the point where Mann says we make resolutions just so we’ll have something to talk about this time of year. For Tamara Awyie, resolutions are more than just words.

“We all wanna achieve something or be better at something,” Awyie said.

One year, fitness was her goal. And she kept her resolution. At least for a while.

“I started and the summer came and I guess I saw some results and I quit.”

To make sure she doesn’t quit on her resolutions, Cheryl Forest breaks down her goals by monthly instead of yearly.

“But I keep it small where I know I can accomplish whatever New Year’s resolution I make,” Forest said.

In addition to setting small, achievable goals, Byron Abrams suggests you should work at your own pace.

“You might start out slow,” Abrams said. “Some people start out quickly with theirs and get to them a little faster.”

Remember Sekou Mann? Even though he’s never kept a New Year’s resolution, he’s 2014 might be the year.

“I’m going to break that cycle.”

His resolution, like many others, is to work out.