How to Make Your New Year’s Resolutions Last in 2024

As 2024 unfolds, many of us will ambitiously set New Year’s resolutions, particularly in fitness and health. However, turning these resolutions into lasting habits is often more challenging than setting them. This guide will help transform your gym-related resolutions from fleeting, guilt-driven promises into sustainable lifestyle changes.

Specificity is Key: Setting Clear Goals: Begin with clear, specific objectives. Vague goals like “get healthier” or “lose weight” lack clarity. Instead, set targets for a specific weight or fitness level by a certain date, with detailed plans for diet and exercise. This approach keeps you focused and tracks progress effectively.

Uncover Deep Motivation: The Power of ‘Why?’: Ask yourself why fitness matters to you. Is it for better health, confidence, to improve a specific health condition or setting an example for your family? This internal motivation will be your anchor, driving consistent action and helping overcome obstacles.

Example Goal: “By June 2024, I aim to reach and maintain a weight of 70kg, with a body fat percentage below 15%. I’ll achieve this by sticking to a balanced diet, exercising for 60 minutes daily, including four weekly gym sessions, and practicing mindfulness to reduce stress. This goal is a must for me because I understand that my health is the foundation for all other aspects of my life, and achieving and maintaining my optimal weight will provide me with the energy and vitality I need to excel in my career, nurture my relationships, and enjoy a fulfilling life.”

Mental Barriers: Tackling Fears and Limiting Beliefs: Identify and confront fears and self-doubts. Recognise your fear of failure, challenge limiting beliefs, and reinforce your capability to achieve your goals.

Address Past Emotional Baggage: Be mindful of past traumas or negative experiences that may hinder your fitness journey. Engaging in healing practices can be a crucial step forward.

The Role of Accountability and Support: A strong support system, like a gym buddy, personal trainer or like-minded community, are invaluable. They provide motivation, alternative perspectives, support and valuable advice.

Celebrate Success – The Importance of Positive Reinforcement: Celebrate every small victory. Acknowledging progress builds momentum and keeps you motivated throughout the year.

Embrace Challenges: The Path to Real Growth: View challenges as growth opportunities. This mindset shift makes obstacles less daunting and more like stepping stones to success.

Why Your Resolutions Must Stick: Your New Year’s resolutions are commitments to your well-being. The journey towards these goals is as important as the goals themselves. By setting clear targets, understanding your motivations, overcoming mental barriers, addressing emotional issues, relying on a support system, celebrating victories, and embracing challenges, you pave the way for a successful and transformative year.

Let 2024 be the year your fitness resolutions become a reality, leading to greater health, happiness, and fulfilment. Embrace the journey with commitment and see remarkable lasting progress in your fitness and well-being.

Special Invitation: Join Sylvia in January for a 2-week online challenge! We’ll use continuous blood glucose monitors to understand how lifestyle affects our health. Learn more about the impact on cortisol levels, blood sugar, sleep, weight, and overall well-being. Learn more here.

Sylvia Tarchalska is a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach, Nutritionist, and Neuro Transformation Therapy Coach. 

Using these modalities and her experience in overcoming the effects of her 20+ years in stockbroking and stress-related health crises, she works with her clients to bio-hack their way forward to a healthier more energetic life by implementing preventative lifestyle measures. She uses empowering tools in the vital areas of nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, environment, and trauma. Her real-life experience of educating and biohacking herself brings a unique depth of knowledge to her client’s journey.