Dr. Dougherty's article in Healty Cells

Give your New Year's resolutions teeth: How to stick to your 2014 goals

We are 10 days into 2014, and that means more than 25 percent of folks have already broken their New Year's resolutions. Get this – only 8 percent of people who set new goals on January 1 will achieve them. But don’t let that dissuade you from setting new goals.

We did a little research to help you keep your resolutions this year. In a recent USA Today article, John Norcross, a psychology professor at Scranton University recommended the following:

- Set SMART goals: That stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-specific. Let's say your resolution is to floss more this year. (Hint, hint …) Make your goal SMART: commit to flossing once a day, every day for the next three months.

- Keep track of your progress: Apps like stickK, Beeminder and Wunderlist help you set reminders and monitor short-term goals. Some even let you bet on yourself; if you break your resolution, they'll charge your credit card. Now that's what I call a resolution with teeth! (Pun intended.)

- Give yourself a high-five for small achievements: Break your resolution up into smaller goals, and then reward yourself for little wins. For example, say your SMART resolution is to brush your teeth two minutes, twice a day, every day of 2014. For every week or two that you maintain your brushing streak, treat yourself to something special – maybe a movie, a dinner at your favorite restaurant or a day-trip somewhere fun.

- Share your resolution: Announcing your goal – whether to family members, close friends or everyone on Facebook – can help motivate you to stay on track.

- Don't let setbacks derail you: Experts say that 70 percent of folks who achieve their goals slip up. But instead of letting mistakes derail their plan, they use them to strengthen their resolve. Learn from your slip and persevere toward your end goal. 2015 will be here before we know it!