5 Hacks To Make Your New Years Goals Stick

It’s that time of the year again when we make resolutions with the hopes that they’ll stick and transform us into a new person. But did you know that an estimated 80% of New Year's resolutions are given up by mid-February?

We’ve pulled together our top five tricks to success, and help you be part of the 20% that achieve all their goals and more!

When it comes to your goals, no matter how big or small they are, let someone know about them. Tell your friends, family, partner, siblings or co-workers – the accountability of others knowing the journey you’re on can provide extra motivation to keep you achieving your goals.

Plus, it’s always harder to go back on a decision once other people know about it, right?

Tip: Have a weekly or fortnightly check-in with a loved one where you update them on your goals and how they’re progressing.

There’s nothing like a bit of friendly competition to keep you motivated! Grab your friends, family, partner, siblings or whoever you shared your resolution with and make a bet with them.

“I bet that I will lose 10kgs by April or I will do your laundry for a month!”

“I promise to have two Lady Shakes every day, if not I’ll take you on a Kmart shopping spree!”

Tip: We’d recommend making the forfeit something you don’t want to do, that way you’ll be more likely to fight harder to win.

Grab the tape measure, it’s time for a weekly results check! Research conducted by the National Weight Loss Register found that people who successfully lose weight all have one thing in common - they all measure their progress weekly and keep a food journal.

We recommend getting into the routine of tracking your daily eating with a food journal – this could be by hand in a notebook, or digitally on an app such as MyFitnessPal. By understanding what’s going into your body, you’ll learn what’s helping change those measurements.

Every Monday morning, before you put on your workwear, grab a tape measure and a notebook and write down the measurements of the following areas:

• Arms (biceps and forearms)
• Legs (thighs and calves)
• Buttock (measure across the top and around your hips)
• Waist/Stomach
• Hips
• Neck

As the weeks go by you’ll be able to watch the centimetres change!

It’s easy to just say ‘I want to lose weight!’ but without giving yourself a reason, or a WHY, it’s common for the resolution to turn into an empty promise.

When times get tough (and they will) on your weight loss journey, it’s important to remind yourself as to WHY you’re doing it, and WHY you want to change your life for the better.

Creating a mood board is an awesome motivator too – you can include pictures of a dream holiday, your family, your dream wedding, and weight loss goals.

Remind yourself of everything you have to gain from achieving your goal, and everything you could lose if you don’t.

When setting yourself big goals it can often feel unattainable to achieve them, no matter how hard you work. By breaking your goals into bite-size wins you can feel the success of achieving your goals more realistically.

Research has shown that when we achieve a goal (or have a win), we get a hit of dopamine (which is a hormone that makes you feel good). When you receive a hit of dopamine your brain immediately gets excited, and motivated and starts searching for the next win it can tackle.

By setting yourself small goals, you’re setting yourself up for success! Here are some of our favourite small goals that help us reach those big goals:

• Drink a glass of water every morning, and with every meal
• Walk for 30 minutes before or after work every day
• Have two pieces of fruit a day
• Don't add any treats to your basket at your next food shop!

Now you’re all set to make 2024 your year!