Aussies about to kick off their New Year resolutions might need some help staying on track, as over half admit they find it difficult to maintain healthy habits, according to new research.
Data from the global nutrition and food tracking app, MyFitnessPal, found that while 82 percent of Gen Z and 80 per cent of millennial Australians have set themselves a New Year’s resolution for 2024, only 12 per cent will maintain them this year.
Psychologist, nutrition and fitness expert, Leanne Hall said, ‘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.’
She suggests people are more likely to achieve their goals by focusing on making small changes, and taking small steps to a healthier lifestyle.
Here are Leanne Hall’s top five tips to stay on track with your health goals this year.
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The concept of a New Year’s resolution is outdated.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.
Break goals down into small steps
The first step to creating a new habit is to break your goal down into smaller 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’.
Focusing on something positive you can add to your lifestyle, rather than removing bad foods will also be helpful.
Get to know your current routine
Everyone’s health goals and lifestyle are different. 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.
Keep track of your progress
When asked how to stick to healthy habits, Australians cited setting clear and achievable goals as the most important factor (25 per cent), followed by general repetition (18 per cent) and visible progress tracking (14 per cent). Positive reinforcement works.
One of the best ways to monitor your progress is through a free tracking app like MyFitnessPal that will highlight the importance of rewarding progress, especially the small wins.
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.
To help Aussies maintain healthy habits, MyFitnessPal has launched a free 7 day ‘Small Steps, Big Wins’ plan which contains tips and recipes to help Australians understand both the quantity and quality of what they’re eating – to kick off their New Year right.
Rather than requiring a lifestyle overhaul, the plan is designed to be approachable, helping Australians make small changes and reach their health goals in 2024.
To find out more about the ‘Small Steps, Big Wins’ plan and help keep track of nutrition and exercise, download MyFitnessPal on Apple, Google and other Android platforms.
