Have you stuck with your New Year's resolutions, or are you already resolving to do better next year?

A study by the University of Scranton suggests that four out of 10 people will have failed to maintain their resolution by the end of January. About 25 percent drop their goals within the first week.We asked local experts for tips on making this year's resolutions a success.Learn from setbacks"Failure is a mild form of progress. You've learned what doesn't work for you. Now you can move forward with what you've learned and try something new," said Thomas Wilson, the director of operations at the Pyramid Sports Performance Center in Lehighton.He noted that to learn from mistakes and setbacks, you must be honest about the efforts you put into meeting your goals and what actions have led to success or failure.If you've given your all and worked out consistently but aren't losing pounds or inches, perhaps it's time to try a new workout or ask for professional help. But if you've been eating more food since working out (possibly more than you've burned off exercising), or have trouble finding time for fitness, it's possible that you need to evaluate your lifestyle as a whole."You have to isolate the issues that lead you to not succeed. You have to be 100 percent honest with yourself, and that's a hard thing to do," he said."You need to learn what works for you," added Rob Mikulski, head strength and conditioning coach at the Pyramid. "What works for someone else may not work for you. There's never just one way of doing something."Aim for long-termIf you're so focused on this year's resolution that you can't see how it fits into your long-term goals, perhaps it's time to take a step back."I like to see people set a number of short-term goals that are attainable to help them reach that long-term goal," said Joshua Koch, a financial representative with Thrivent Financial in Lehighton.He likened short- and long-term goals to climbing to the top of a tall building."The short-term goals are important," said Koch. "You can't just jump 12 flights. You have to climb each step to get up those flights. You have to climb step by step to get to that end goal, whether that goal be retiring at 65 and not 80, or saving money for a different goal."He noted that it's important to be reasonable when setting goals. You'll want to challenge yourself, but also set goals that are attainable.For example, don't expect to save half of your income if you're living paycheck to paycheck. And don't expect to lose 50 pounds in two months. True progress and change take time."Short-term goals sometimes aren't attainable with a reasonable amount of time, or a reasonable amount of effort or resources," he said. "They should re-evaluate their goals, and really make sure they are doable."Evaluate your progressWhen evaluating progress, don't take a narrow viewpoint. Examine all of the changes you've made and any progress, even if it doesn't meet your specific resolutions."You've got to look at the big picture," said Mikulski. "People get hung up on the scale. We're three weeks into the new year, and maybe you haven't lost any weight. But do your clothes fit better?"It is possible to work too hard toward a goal, he added. Be honest with yourself about whether you're taking it easy or approaching burnout."People either don't work out hard enough, or they work out too hard and burn themselves out," said Mikulski.Recovery and rest plays a big role, whether you're physically taxing your body or using mental restraint to diet or improve your finances. It's about finding a balance between working toward your goals and not burning out.If you're still struggling, don't hesitate to ask for help. That might mean speaking to a financial adviser if your goals are financial, or signing up for sessions with a trainer at the gym.Getting help can also mean finding friends with a similar goal, or speaking to friends who have already crossed the hurdles you're facing. Having friends or family members on your side, either meeting you at the gym or simply cheering you on, can make all the difference. Being held accountable can also increase the chances of success."If you truly desire to accomplish something, you can achieve it," said Mikulski. "You're going to have setbacks, but you need to celebrate the small achievements. Milestones are very important."