10 ways to make healthy habits stick.

• Position: YOUR LIFE

Taking small steps to improve health may be more effective than tackling major lifestyle changes all at once. Many individuals who smoke, avoid exercise, or need to lose weight know they may be headed for health problems, yet change is difficult. Health professionals have spent years studying what actually works to help people make long-lasting behavior changes.

Here are some strategies from the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., to make healthy habits stick:

Assess readiness. Motivation must come from within, with a perceived need to change. It is best to avoid starting during times of major distractions, such as marital or financial difficulties.

Start small. Major changes in diet and exercise can seem overwhelming. Instead, small steps may be achievable--something as simple as adding vegetables to pasta sauce.

Set realistic goals. The most useful goals are SMART--specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time limited. For instance, set a goal to walk 30 minutes a day, five days a week.

Believe. It may seem obvious, but confidence in the ability to change is essential.

Track behavior. Self-monitoring food intake, weight, or daily exercise can promote change. People who self-monitor food intake have been found to lose twice as much weight, compared to those who do not keep track.

Solve problems. Long-term change requires strategies to solve difficulties as they...