While many prepare to meet the new year with a toast and good company, millions set aside time to throw their hat in for a New Year’s Resolution or two.

Everyone has a habit they wish to change and no time seems better than the new year. Some say, “New Year, new you,” and we’ve all made resolutions to lose that extra 10 pounds, or told our loved ones, whether a spouse, parent or sibling, that we won’t argue anymore.

We’ve all thought about making resolutions of keeping a (nearly) spotless home and cutting out junk food from our diets. And while we hope to change our tune, resolutions are not always the way to go unless there’s a set plan.

According to Time Magazine, less than 10 percent of those who make resolutions actually follow through and keep them, while the majority usually abandon them after a week.

So what’s the point in making a resolution when there’s no follow through? Those who make the resolution are hoping to change something, but many go in with the unreal expectation that those habits will be changed easily. It’s easy to see why many fall into the habit of failed resolutions; we want to change, but we are creatures of habit; they don’t change at the turn of the page when the new year begins.

A New Year’s resolution to lose weight with no plan is setting one up for failure, as is something to quit smoking, drinking less or finding someone to spend one’s life with.

There are a few things those who make resolutions can do to make sure they fall in the slim percentage that keep sticking to their plans.

Setting realistic goals, like exercising so many times a week, can help one keep a resolution. Come up with small steps to do everyday and don’t set an end date; timelines can be an enemy. Even relying on others for encouragement is a good thing; telling people about the resolution means they can remind one about their course. One of the best thing to remember when setting a resolution, finding support and setting a plan is to understand that slips are par for the course.

So while ringing in the New Year with friends and good company, have that toast and maybe even get ready to start the year with plans for a “new you.” Just remember to not be afraid of failure; small setbacks are inevitable.