January Is Over, How Are Those New Year's Resolutions Going?

It's officially the second month of the year, and those who made New Year's resolutions are a full 31 days into their new routines. Or, are they?

According to research conducted by the University of Scranton, 46 percent of people who made New Year's resolutions have abandoned their goals already, and 25 percent abandoned them weeks ago – within the first seven days of January.

The numbers of resolute Resolutioners dwindle exponentially as the pages of the calendar turn; 54 percent have abandoned their goals after six months, and a total of 92 percent by the end of December, just in time to start the process all over.

In other words, only 8 percent of people who outline New Year's resolutions will meet their goals by the year's end.

Source: Money, Time Magazine.

According to Talk.edu, the following resolutions appear year-after-year as popular goals:

• Make Small Investments
• Save Money
• Improve Finances
• Get Out Of Debt
• Start A Business
• Get/Change A Job
• Reduce Stress

There are many reasons New Year's resolutions rarely stick. However, for each reason, there is a course of action to help you maintain your gumption, or, to re-instill your vigor if you're among those 46 percent of Americans who have already lost motivation.

So, regardless of whether you have given up on your New Year's resolutions or if your dedication is still desperately hanging on by a thread, look at these three potential pitfalls and place them within the context of your own goals.

For example, looking at the Talk.edu list, here are a few alternative ways of viewing these goals: