Grace Green has resolved to use fewer verbal profanities in 2011.

Though the motivation for this particular resolution is unknown, the third year anthropology student, like so many others at USI, is challenging herself to change her ways.

Anyone who has made a New Year’s resolution, whether it involved attempting to drop a bad habit or develop a good one, has probably encountered some difficulties in staying resolved.

USA.gov lists losing weight, drinking less alcohol, quitting smoking, getting a handle on finances and volunteering among citizen’s top resolutions year after year.

Regardless of the resolution, experts for Time magazine offer some tips for keeping it.

Start by being realistic, setting a defined and attainable goal. Vague and over-ambitious resolutions often fail with little actual commitment to them, experts say.

When attempting to moderate a behavior, experts found it helpful to temporarily abstain from the behavior completely.

In other words, the cold turkey treatment in the short term seemed to facilitate cutting back in the long term.

Experts on addictive behaviors point out that there is a period of time between initial idea and final decision, in which lies the opportunity to talk oneself out of a bad choice.

Learning to utilize this time is key in making behavior changes, they say.

Most students are familiar with stress and its potentially negative effects on the body and mind.

Research shows that scaring oneself into committing to something just isn’t the way to make lasting behavior changes.

Those who resolve with the potential rewards of success in mind are more likely to keep their resolutions than those who dwell on the possible consequences of failure.

When all else fails, change your scenery for a time.

Your friends have an undeniable effect on the places you go, the activities in which you participate, and the temptations thrown your way, especially for young people.

Support from social influence is an important factor in the strength of a commitment to change.

One person’s success can serve as encouragement for others, experts say.

Although it’s doubtful that cleaning up language on campus was Green’s ultimate goal in her resolution for the new year, she and others will undoubtedly face the challenges of waging war on oneself in 2011.

With the proper approach, they can all fight winning battles.