Expert Insights For Keeping Your New Year's Resolutions Alive

Struggling with sticking to your New Year's resolutions? Adjusting your mindset might just be the key.

New research from MyFitnessPal, the leading global nutrition and food tracking app, reveals that over half of Australians (57%) find it challenging to sustain healthy habits, despite setting resolutions for 2024. While a significant majority of Gen Z (82%) and millennials (80%) have committed to resolutions, only a mere 12% are expected to maintain them throughout the year.

According to psychologist, nutrition, and fitness expert Leanne Hall, the secret lies in setting realistic and achievable goals.

“There’s no doubt this is a popular time of year to make some lifestyle changes, the problem is that we tend to set ourselves ambitious and unrealistic resolutions that are difficult to maintain.

“Aussies are more likely to achieve their goals by focusing on making small changes, and taking small steps to a healthier lifestyle.”

Leanne shares her top five tips for how you can stay on track with their health goals this year. 

   1. Focus on creating new habits
The concept of a New Year’s resolution is outdated. It encourages people to set themselves a huge target that’s often unrealistic and the result is that, more than often, they give up. Instead, focus on how you can create new habits that will help you reach your goals for the long-term.

   2. Break goals down into small steps 

For example, rather than ‘losing weight’, try being more specific and including more sustainable changes such as ‘adding more leafy greens’ or ‘adding more regular exercise into my day’.

   3. Get to know your current routine
The only way you can make positive long-term change is by gaining an understanding of your current nutrition and exercise habits. By logging and tracking these habits, you can see more clearly the steps you can take to make a change. 

   4. Keep track of your progress ‍

One of the best ways to monitor your progress is through a tracking app like MyFitnessPal that will highlight the importance of rewarding progress, especially the small wins. 

   5. Play the long game
It’s important to challenge yourself but by making small changes that add up over time, you’re much more likely to stick to them.