Though they may stem from the best of intentions, New Year’s resolutions are notoriously hard to keep. So how can we form healthier habits, and maintain them long-term? We’ve turned to experts for advice to help you stop self-sabotaging
The start of a new calendar year invariably represents a chance for a fresh start. Coupled with the desire to leave behind any (often literal) hangovers from the previous year, it’s no surprise that New Year’s resolutions tend to focus on our personal health.
With the World Health Organisation (WHO), having defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”, there are innumerable aspects of health to address. Whether exercising more, managing stress, learning a new skill, getting more sleep, or any number of other goals — when it comes to one’s health, there’s always room for improvement.
While the concept of “New Year, New You” dominates each January (discounted gym memberships being a prime example of how companies capitalise on this collective period of self-improvement), 80 per cent of New Year's resolutions fail by February according to multiple studies. Unfortunately, the forming of small, regular actions and practices known as habits is not as easy as simply setting an intention. Behavioural change is complex — even before the addition of everyday stresses, distractions and obligations. So how can we better identify and tackle that which is getting in the way of our goals? And how can we approach desired change in a tangible way?
We’ve enlisted the help of specialists to understand why we sabotage our own plans, and to get practical tips for keeping healthier habits in 2026.