50% success rate for New Year's Resolutions

Despite the Guardian's grim headline (New Year's Resolutions Doomed to Failure, Psychologists Say), what the psychologists in question actually seem to be saying is that if you follow basic behavioral principles developed by psychologists over decades of scientific research, rather than mere impulse or self-help blather, you have a 50-50 chance of achieving your goals this year.

1. Don't pick something on impulse. Pick something you've been thinking about doing for a while and have had a chance to plan a bit.
2. Set a series of small, measurable goals instead of one giant one. 
3. Keep records of your progress.
4. Enlist support: Go to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, or tell your family what you're doing, or get an exercise buddy.
5. Focus on the positive--don't plan to lose weight, plan to add 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables to your daily diet.