"This is the year I get in shape. This is the year I get organized. This is the year I get control of my finances."

What is it about the arrival of a new year that compels so many of us to resolve to change our behavior? And if so many of us keep making resolutions, why do so few of us keep them? Making -- and breaking -- New Year's resolutions is one of life's all-too-familiar psychodramas.

Indeed, there seem to be nearly as many studies of the resolution phenomenon as there are resolutions themselves. John Norcross, a professor of psychology at the University of Scranton, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, has conducted three studies of people who make resolutions. "The situation is not as bad as people think it is," he insists. Sure, more than half of the people in one of his studies had broken their resolutions after six months. But 96% of the people in a control group -- people who wanted to change their behavior but hadn't resolved to do so -- had also failed to change in that length of time.

His conclusion? "You're 10 times as likely to succeed by making a resolution as to succeed by not making one." So what separates those who succeed from those who don't? Three factors, Norcross argues: "the readiness to change, the confidence that you can change, and the skills needed to change -- above all, an ability to plan."

We can't help with your readiness or your confidence. But we can offer some pointers on making a plan -- by pointing you to the Web. This edition of @Work (renamed @1999) identifies Web-based tools and support groups that will help you stick to some of the most popular resolutions -- from losing weight to getting organized. Why not start the New Year by resolving to get help from a new medium?

"I'm Gonna Get in Shape."

Getting in shape can mean lots of things. Maybe you want to lose weight. Maybe you want to eat better and to exercise more. Maybe you want to quit smoking.

The Web is overflowing with practical resources, smart advice, and online support for people who resolve to improve their health. You can virtually gorge on the many useful sites that are now up and running.

Of course, you have to start somewhere. And the place to start with resolutions is Thrive (www.thriveonline.com). The site, a joint venture of America Online and Time Inc., has five core areas: "medical," "diet," "fitness," "sports" (outdoor recreation), and "passion" (sex). Thrive offers various online resources, including newsletters, advice columns, and lots of community interaction.

What distinguishes Thrive from other health-oriented sites is its explicit focus on resolutions, in an area called New Year's @ Thrive. For example, New Year's @ Thrive has an "Are You Ready to Lose Weight?" quiz -- a diagnostic that evaluates just how determined you are to slim down. It tests, among other things, your motivation ("I know why I want to lose weight at this time"), your sense of personal responsibility ("I feel in control of whether I achieve the weight I desire"), and your support system ("I don't feel there is anyone I can talk to about my weight-loss concerns and goals").

Once you decide on a goal, you complete a Personal Resolution Contract, which in turn generates an action plan. The 12-week contract is a lively combination of affirmations, checklists, and rewards. Thrive's message boards provide day-to-day support to help you stick to your contract. You can find a weight-loss buddy, swap diet strategies, and compare specific diet plans.