At the start of a new year, many of us set good intentions. We decide to eat healthier, take more rest, take better care of ourselves or make more conscious choices in daily life. And yet, already in January, many New Year’s resolutions start to slip.
Not because they don’t matter.
But because everyday life returns.
Work, social commitments, expectations and fatigue all come back into play. What felt logical and achievable in the first days of January suddenly clashes with the rhythm of daily life. And doubt creeps in: why is this so hard to keep up?
Why New Year’s resolutions often start to slip in January
Many New Year’s resolutions are based on an ideal image of how we think we should live. But once daily routines return, that ideal often turns out not to fit the reality of our lives.
New Year’s resolutions often fail because they are:
- too big or too vague
- disconnected from daily routines
- dependent on constant willpower
- lacking flexibility
That makes them difficult to sustain — and sometimes discouraging.
Why more discipline usually doesn’t work
When New Year’s resolutions don’t work out, we often think we need more discipline. To be stricter with ourselves. To try harder.
In practice, this rarely leads to lasting change.
Too much discipline often results in:
- all-or-nothing thinking
- guilt when things don’t go perfectly
- the feeling of failure
And that makes it harder to start again.
Sticking to New Year’s resolutions through better alignment
What actually helps is not more discipline, but better alignment.
Alignment with:
- your energy
- your body
- your daily rhythm
- the phase of life you are in right now
New Year’s resolutions become more sustainable when they fit who you are and how your life looks at this moment — not an ideal scenario, but real life.
What helps you stick to New Year’s resolutions
Start small
Big plans require a lot of energy. Small, concrete steps are easier to integrate into daily life and therefore easier to sustain.
Not: I’m going to completely change my lifestyle.
But for example:
- one more conscious eating moment a day
- a short breathing exercise during the day
- one small choice that supports you today
Small does not mean insignificant. Small steps create continuity — and make it possible to stick with change in the long term.
Look at your whole day
New Year’s resolutions never stand on their own. How you eat, how you breathe, what you wear and how you treat yourself all influence each other.
When you are tired or stressed, making healthy choices becomes harder. When you wear clothes that don’t feel right, this can affect your energy and confidence.
Looking at your day as a whole creates more understanding — and more room to make choices that support each other.
belangrijk. Juist kleine stappen zorgen voor continuïteit — en helpen je om het op de lange termijn vol te houden.
Allow imperfection
Sticking to New Year’s resolutions becomes easier when you are not overly critical with yourself when things don’t go perfectly.
Not: See, I failed again.
But: What did I need in that moment — and what can help me pick it up again?
Self-compassion makes change more sustainable. It allows you to keep choosing, instead of giving up.
From New Year’s resolutions to realistic daily choices
New Year’s resolutions don’t have to be rigid plans. They can also be a direction.
An invitation to:
- eat more consciously
- breathe more calmly
- listen better to your body
- make choices that support you
When you translate your intentions into small, realistic steps that fit your life, they become easier to integrate — without forcing.
r kleine, haalbare stappen die passen bij jouw leven, ontstaat er ruimte om ze echt te integreren — zonder forceren.
Want to explore this in a practical way?
Would you like to explore how your New Year’s resolutions can align with your life, your body and your pace — from the inside out?
On Saturday morning, January 24th, I’m hosting a small, practical workshop in Amsterdam where we work with this in a supportive and realistic way.
During the workshop, we look at daily choices around food, breathing, what you wear and how you relate to yourself — and translate them into small steps you can actually maintain.
👉 More information and registration can be found here:
How to stick to New Year’s resolutions – workshop
You are very welcome.