New Year’s resolutions may be fun to make, but they are also easy to break, so here are tips from an expert on how to keep them.

“Everyone is motivated when they first decide to make a New Year’s resolution but the problem is that you can ride the wave of motivation for only a short while. If you want to stick with your resolution, you’d better make it a habit,” says Josh Klapow, PhD., a clinical psychologist at the University of Birmingham in Alabama.

He suggests using what he calls the  S.M.A.R.T. system, which consists of these five tricks that can turn any resolution into a habit:

1. Set specific goals. Instead of “I want to eat better,” set a specific goal, like  ‘I will eat five servings of fruit and vegetables every day’ or ‘I will start walking five minutes per day and increase by one minute each week until I am walking 30 minutes per day."
2. Monitor your actions. Keep track of what you are doing. Mark every workout on a calendar, and put that calendar where you can see it. The more you keep track, the more likely you are to continue with that behavior.
3. Arrange for success by eliminating barriers. If you want to go to the gym in the morning, then lay your clothes out the night before and have the coffee and gym bag ready to go. If you want to reduce sweets, remove them from the house and office.
4. Recruit a support team. Ask friends and family members to provide support, let them know they are critical to your success, and show them any progress you have already made toward your goals.
5. Treat your actions. Reward yourself for making your resolution a habit. some examples include having a low-fat ice cream, going to a movie, or enjoying some other type of treat that will make you feel good about your new habit.