By Dr. Jennifer Forney, Forney Wellness Group, LLC
Making New Year’s health and wellness resolutions can feel exciting and hopeful. You’re envisioning a newer – more improved – version of yourself. You want to feel better, look better, and be better prepared for a long and healthy life.
Who wouldn’t want to look in the mirror and love the person looking back at them? Or to step on a scale and feel happy with their weight? Or to begin 2025 with a focus on preventive health? Or to lovingly prepare nutritious and delicious homecooked meals for their family?
The list goes on. But as I explained in my last blog post, 92% of New Year’s health and wellness resolutions crash and burn. (Most of them by the time the calendar turns to February.)
But why? Many times the problem is psychological.
A Psychological Perspective: Keeping New Year’s Health & Wellness Resolutions
To be fair, many of us here in Western New York are already at a disadvantage in the frigid dead of winter. Cold weather and seemingly neverending months of snowfall can make staying active and eating healthy difficult.
So let’s better understand the common psychological pitfalls of making New Year’s health and wellness resolutions – and how to be more resilient for success this year.
1. Lack of Readiness for Change
The Challenge
Are you ready? (I mean seriously ready?) Change doesn’t happen overnight. If you haven’t mentally prepared or created a clear plan, you may struggle to follow through.
How to Overcome It
Use the Stages of Change model to assess where you are in your readiness to change:
- Precontemplation: You’re just beginning to consider a change.
- Contemplation: You’re weighing the pros and cons of taking action.
- Preparation: You’re building a plan.
- Action: You’re actively working toward your goal.
- Maintenance: You’re building long-term habits to sustain your progress.
If you’re not at the “action” stage yet, focus on preparing yourself by gathering resources, building your support system, and addressing any mental or emotional barriers.
Expert Tip
A licensed health counselor can guide you through these stages, helping you move from contemplation to action with confidence.
2. Expecting Perfection
The Challenge
Get perfection out of your head right now! None of us is perfect. We’re human and we will fall short or lose sight of the big picture. When you hit a bump in the road — like missing a workout or indulging in an unhealthy meal — it’s easy to feel like your New Year’s health and wellness resolution journey is over.
How to Overcome It
Recognize that progress isn’t linear. Setbacks are part of the journey. Instead of aiming for perfection, focus on consistency. Celebrate your wins, no matter how small, and use challenges as learning opportunities.
Expert Tip
A health counselor can help you reframe your mindset, emphasizing progress over perfection and building resilience to keep moving forward. You’re not weak. You didn’t fail. You CAN get back on track!
3. Thinking Too Big
The Challenge
Many New Year’s health and wellness resolutions fail because they’re simply overwhelming. Big, sweeping goals like “I’ll lose 50 pounds” or “I’ll work out every day” may feel inspiring at first, but can quickly lead to burnout.
How to Overcome It
Would it be smart to head to the gym on the first day and try to benchpress as much as an NFL linebacker? Absolutely not! Break your goal into smaller, manageable steps. For instance, instead of vowing to lose a significant amount of weight, commit to drinking more water daily or walking 15 minutes three times a week. Small, consistent actions lead to meaningful results over time.
Expert Tip
Set realistic milestones and create an actionable plan tailored to your lifestyle and capabilities.
4. Trying to Do It Alone
The Challenge
Accountability is a powerful motivator, but many people set resolutions without sharing their goals or seeking support. Self-improvement can be a lonely path. But if you remove “self” in favor of “team” improvement, you’ll organically build a network of support. You can help them. They can help you. Together, you can hold yourselves accountable for health and wellness goals and objectives.
How to Overcome It
Share your goals with a trusted friend, family member or professional. Regular check-ins and encouragement can keep you on track and make the process more enjoyable.
Expert Tip
At Forney Wellness Group, we offer personalized coaching and support to help you stay committed to your health and wellness journey. You don’t have to do it alone — we’re here as experts to guide the process and friends to give you the confidence to stay committed.
5. Not Knowing Your ‘Why’
The Challenge
We often make New Year’s health and wellness resolutions based on societal pressures or what we think we “should” do, rather than what truly matters to us. A lack of personal connection can make it hard to stay motivated.
But do you truly need to look like the model on the cover of that magazine? That sounds like more of a want to me. A more realistic need would be to lose 20 pounds to be more healthy, or to build stamina to help your kid practice for soccer.
How to Overcome It
Take time to reflect on why your goal is important to you. Are you trying to boost your energy, feel more confident or improve your long-term health? When your goals are tied to personal values, they become more meaningful and easier to stick with.
Expert Tip
Licensed health counselors are skilled at helping you uncover your deeper motivations and align your goals with your values. We ensure your efforts are both purposeful and rewarding.
Addressing the Psychological Barriers of New Year’s Health & Wellness Resolutions
Let’s kick off your health and wellness resolutions on the right foot by addressing the psychology of self-improvement. By enlisting the support of a licensed health counselor (like me), you can transform your resolutions into lasting habits.
At Forney Wellness Group, we specialize in guiding clients through this process with compassion and expertise. Let’s tackle your goals together this year – and make them stick! Feel free to reach out to me directly at [email protected] or book a free consultation here.
