After the year we’ve had you’re probably eager to welcome in 2021. And if you’re like most Americans that includes making a New Year’s resolution. But here’s the thing: studies show only 8 percent of us actually meet our goal.

Does that mean you might as well give up before you even begin? No way. There’s a science to resolution-making. Following a few rules can not only substantially bump up the odds of your success, but can also help to make you happier in the year ahead.

Don't set yourself up to be discouraged. You can always make your goal harder later on.

“[T]hink of a resolution that involves helping others not just yourself,” Richard Ryan, one of the authors of a journal article on what it takes to for a resolution to be successful, said in a statement. Instead of making a resolution that’s totally self-centered, craft one that is caring of others. It’s more satisfying.

“We found that when people are concerned about giving to others, they experience deeper satisfaction than when their goals are self-oriented.” Ryan and Edward Deci, both professors emeritus of psychology at the University of Rochester, developed one of the most widely-accepted frameworks for the study of human motivation and personality, self-determination theory (SDT).

You can meet your goals and help others at the same time. If you’ve decided you want to exercise more, consider volunteering to deliver meals, or walk an elderly neighbor’s dog. It’s the same if your resolution is to be more organized. Plan on donating the stuff you no longer want or need — whether it’s clothing, furniture, or books or tchotchkes — to a charitable organization. If you’ve made a resolution to learn to cook, find a way to share your delicious new dishes with family members or friends. If the pandemic continues to make visits impossible, set a time to drop it off outside their door.

Ryan offers three more suggestions based on his research to help you create a resolution that makes you happier and is more likely to stick:

  • Make your goal concrete rather than abstract. For example, instead of saying you’re going to be healthier, set a goal to walk more. Then make a plan on how you’re going to achieve it. Use a fitness tracker or step-counting app for your phone that counts steps; or schedule a time you’re going to walk, how far you’re planning to go and a place to do it.

  • Find ways to keep it enjoyable. Walk or run somewhere beautiful or on a route you want to explore. Instead of running a mile alone, how about walking with a friend? If your goal is to lose weight, look for meals that feature flavors you love, but use low-calorie ingredients.

  • Set goals that are challenging, but not likely to become overwhelming or discouraging. You can always increase your investment in your resolution as you make progress, but don’t start with a goal that is unrealistic or too daunting. “Setting the bar too high will be discouraging and lead to disengagement,” Ryan advises. “The best strategy is to set small incremental goals not ‘I’m going to climb Everest’ but rather ‘I’m going to take these first few steps towards base camp.’”

    • Finally, Ryan suggests you consider the possibility that not every resolution you make will bring you closer to happiness, even if you meet your goal. For instance, setting a goal of making more money might mean working harder, and that could leave you feeling less connected to others, having less autonomy in your day-to-day life and ultimately less happy.

    Resolutions are a chance for you to focus on things you want for yourself. They are there to serve you. So choose your resolution wisely — and have a Happy New Year.

    The study is published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.