Every New Year's Eve, millions of people make the same promises to eat better or lose some weight or go forward on a career decision. But it's become cliché now for New Year's resolutions to never last beyond New Year's Day. But who says it has to be that way?

Here are some ways that you can make a better effort at following this year's resolutions.

1. Focus on your real passions. Anyone can say "I need to exercise more" or "I want to go on a diet," but not everyone has the same needs and desires. Instead, focus on what you actually want to achieve this year. Maybe you want to find a new place to live or start a new job, or perhaps you want something simpler like spending more time with family and friends. The point is to focus on what you truly want and not what you think is expected of you.

2. Turn your goals into habits. Instead of saying "I want to exercise more this year," you can get specific and start better habits for yourself. If your goal is to be in better shape, then set up a weekly workout schedule and a new plan for preparing your meals. The more you get into the details, the more focused and committed you'll be to actually getting these goals accomplished on a daily or weekly basis.

3. Get a partner for your resolutions. Find someone whom you trust to help you stay on task with your resolutions, like a friend with whom you can go to the gym or go grocery shopping for healthier meals. You can also be that person's partner in helping them keep their resolutions, which will make the whole experience a lot more positive.

4. Follow your happiness, not your stress. It's easy to let the goals we set loom large in our minds, which makes it harder to get them done. It also puts a lot of stress on us because we think that our happiness will only be complete once we accomplish those goals. But happiness is possible in the present moment. It's the feeling that can sustain you toward your goal, rather than the end result. Look for reasons and methods to stay happy as you pursue your New Year's resolutions day by day.

Image by Ed Yourdon on Flickr