It is that time of year. A fresh start, a chance to better yourself or make new changes. Each turn of the new year is the ultimate, "I'll start on Monday."

Each year, about half of the U.S. population makes at least one resolution, but studies show around a quarter of those resolutions will be broken by the first week and a little more than half were broken by the end of the first month. 

"If you are struggling with resolutions, don't be so hard on yourself. It is quite normal to have difficulty with change whether it's January or any time of the year. Our brains are wired in a way to resist change, it likes the status quo. So it's important for us to anticipate that it is going to take persistence and some setbacks to get these resolutions in place," Cleveland Clinic Psychologist Dr. Susan Albers said.

Albers said studies have pinpointed two behaviors that help increase the success of a resolution.

"No. 1 is to stop telling yourself to put the brakes on a behavior, instead focus on starting a behavior. For example: instead of saying, 'I'm going to quit smoking or mindlessly eating this year,' focus on starting the behavior: eating more fruits and vegetables, going for a walk each day. No. 2 is social support. Study after study shows that when we have someone who joins us in our resolution or helps to keep us accountable, it is much more likely to happen," Albers said.

The holidays are a stressful time of year that can often lead to a dip in mental health.

"There are two behaviors that are going to increase your mental health. No. 1 is prioritizing sleep. Quality sleep is the cornerstone of mental health, your sleep hormones impact your mood, and your appetite. Second is to prioritize your stress management; you can do this by limiting your time on social media. [Social media] is highly correlated with depression and anxiety so place some healthy boundaries and just be mindful of it this year," said Albers