Aussies are being urged to rethink their resolutions as almost three quarters (70%) are about to set unattainable goals that they’ll struggle to maintain in 2024.
While the start of a new year is synonymous with setting self-improvement targets such as goals for health, wellbeing, finances or relationships, Aussies who are planning to set a New Year’s resolution could be walking into a familiar trap.
New research from number one global nutrition and food tracking app, MyFitnessPal revealed that while most Aussies (70%) plan to set a New Year’s resolution this year, only one in ten (12%) will maintain them for the full year.
Psychologist, nutritionist and fitness expert Leanne Hall said “The concept of a New Year’s resolution is outdated and they can actually cause more harm than good. While the start of a new year is a great opportunity to rethink our health and wellbeing, setting resolutions that are too ‘big’ and unsustainable can have the opposite effect, making us feel like we’ve failed if we don’t maintain them.”
“Humans are habitual creatures, so by creating smaller healthy habits in our day to day routines, we’re much more likely to achieve our big goals.” continued Leanne.
When it comes to self-improvement for their health, prioritising better sleep (44%), improving overall wellbeing (41%), healthy eating (38%), losing weight (37%) and managing stress (33%) were the top 5 priorities for Australians.
Author and fitness coach, Luke Hines said: “Consistency is key when it comes to nutrition and fitness. So rather than unrealistic resolutions, Australians should focus on taking small steps to change their daily lifestyle. Setting goals that are easier to maintain will add up over time to help you reach your health goals.”
“For example, rather than a resolution to ‘lose a lot of weight’, which is likely unrealistic, try ‘adding more fibre’ to help you feel fuller or ‘exercising regularly’ instead. Nutrition tracking apps, like MyFitnessPal can be invaluable for this, to help ensure you’re getting the right nutrients by tracking your daily food intake.” continued Luke.
To help Aussies maintain healthy habits that lead to long-term change, 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 ‘Small Steps, Big Wins’ plan is designed to be approachable and easy to implement for Australians looking to make small changes that will lead to long-term healthier habits.
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.