Struggling? Here's how to reboot your New Year's resolution

ATLANTA (FOX 5 Atlanta) - We're less than a month into 2019, and many of us already need a resolution reboot.

Surveys show about 80% drop our New Year's goal by February 1st.

CentreSpring MD founder Dr. Taz Bhatia says the challenge is, when we set a goal, we tend to go big, perhaps a little too big.

"It's not actionable," Bhatia says.  "It's not tangible. It's not within some confines. You say, I'm going to lose 50 pounds.  Well, when?  How long?"

If you goal is to be more patient, she says, ask yourself how you plan to do that, and be specific.

So, what can you do if you’re already fallen off the wagon?

Bhatia says reassess.

Think about what might have tripped you up.

"So, first, go back to, where is your time going," she says.  "Where is your stress?  Minimize your stress."

Dr. Bhatia says stress can undermine our ability to change direction.

"And science tells us, research tells us, that when we stay in a stressed state, then we are going to exactly do what we always have been doing," Bhatia explains.  "We're not going to make changes. We're not going to redirect. We're not going to do anything new.  Because the brain wants to go back to its comfort zone."

Before you pick a new goal, she recommends finding one step you can take to tame your stress,

something you can stick to for 3 weeks, the time needed to begin to rewire your brain.

"Whether that is meditation, or journaling, or prayer, or yoga, or whatever it is, start something to rewire your brain before you commit to the resolution," she says.

When you're ready to try again, Dr. Bhatia says, think small, and make a plan.

The more specific your goal, the better.

Instead of trying to lose 25 pounds, focus on what you can do in the next month.

Losing 4 or 5 pounds is a more realistic goal, Bhatia says.

If you want to be more patient, this about a small, achievable goal.

"I am going to breathe 5 times before I answer my children," Bhatia suggests.  "That helps you to be more specific. So, again, the more actionable and the more specific you can be, the more successful you will be."