> but only if I subsequently break them down into quarterly resolutions so I can evaluate them more often. A whole year is too long a time to check up on your goals.

I agree. I've had pretty good success in terms of building habits by sticking a calendar next to the door and marking off every day where I go for a run, or keeping daily/weekly records of expenses (again, with a physical chart stuck somewhere I have to look at it regularly) in order to stick to a budget.