New year, new you, right? Not so fast. Although the new year is a popular time to make resolutions such as exercising more, eating healthier, and improving overall wellness – it is often easier said than done. In fact, most resolutions tend to fail by February. Despite the best intentions, getting fit, losing weight, and improving your overall health is hard to do. This year, instead of just making the same resolutions – you can actually achieve them. Let’s start by looking at why a resolution fails and discussing the steps needed to stick with a resolution.

This year I will… 

When making a resolution for the new year, does the resolution include a long list of sweeping changes? If it does, then you are not alone. A big reason resolutions fail is because too often too many goals are set, with no real plan to achieve all of them. Also, individuals often set goals that are too vague. It is easy to say you plan on becoming healthier in the new year, but without a specific plan for how to achieve this, it is not likely you will succeed. Here is how to make this year different.

1. Start simple and be specific 

Having multiple goals at the beginning of the year is overwhelming. Start with one simple goal in mind and once you achieve that first goal, then move on to the next one. When you make a resolution, aim for a specific goal. Instead of choosing a vague goal like planning to exercise more, plan the details for doing it; for example, vow to go to the gym three times a week. That is a goal that is easy to measure and therefore easier to attain.

2. Outline your plan

It’s easier to get where you want to be when you have a road map. Having your resolution mapped-out breaks up big goals into smaller, more attainable ones. And each small goal you accomplish will help keep you motivated toward achieving your overall goal. Whatever your resolution is, make sure you have a step-by-step plan to reach that goal.

To help with wellness resolutions, Thorne has created easy-to-follow wellness guides that are based on different health goals. Interested in weight management? This free guide offers information on diet and lifestyle changes you can make to manage your weight and make it stick. It includes recipes, lists of what foods to eat and in what portions – and what foods to avoid. Thorne’s 10-Day Detox Protocol offers advice on how to reset your body with a 10-day MediClear detox program, so you can start the new year off feeling refreshed. And if you’re feeling especially ambitious, then check out the 21-day MediClear allergy elimination and detox program.

3. Track your progress

You are more likely to stay motivated throughout the year when you can see how far you have come. Whatever your goal is, find a way to track and chart each little success. Let’s say you commit to exercise more this year. Keep a calendar or a journal and record each time you make it to the gym. For those harder-to-visualize goals, like reducing and better managing stress in the new year, Thorne can help.

Our at-home health test kits uncover insights about your health. Not only can you see where your stress levels stand, but you also receive a personal plan for how to eat, exercise, and supplement based on your unique test results. A few months after your first at-home test, you can take the same test again to see how far you’ve come toward meeting your health goals. Stress isn’t the only thing you can test for. Thorne offers health panels and at-home tests to help you reach a variety of health goals. 

Recording or charting your new healthy habits will help you see how far you have come and how far you need to go. It’s an excellent way to keep motivated throughout the year.

Other tips for making your resolutions stick 

Here are some other time-tested tips for following through on your new year resolutions.

  • Be patient and remember to take it one day at a time. Habits don’t form overnight. On average, it takes about two months to form a new, good habit.
  • Reward yourself for hard work. Rewards are nice incentives for reaching new milestones throughout the year. Just remember to celebrate each small success with something that doesn’t upset your resolution. For example, if your goal is weight management, reward yourself with a movie night instead of a huge sugary snack.
  • Don’t keep your resolution a secret. Share your health goal with family and friends. They will be there to support you and keep you focused on a path toward positive change. The more people you share your resolution with, the more support you will receive and the more you will be held accountable.
  • Read this article for tips on how to implement positive lifestyle changes.

Become your best self

Whatever your wellness goals are for this year, Thorne is here to help. From carefully selected health and fitness bundles to educational resources on healthy lifestyle tips, Thorne’s mission is to help you achieve your optimal health – not just during January, but all year.