Australians who are about to start their New Year's resolutions may require assistance in staying on course, as new research reveals that more than half (57%) of them acknowledge that they struggle to stick to healthy habits.

According to data from the top nutrition and food tracking app in the world, MyFitnessPal, nine out of ten Australians in the Gen Z (82%) and millennial (80%) age groups have made resolutions for 2024, but only one in ten (12%) will stick with them this year.

"There's no doubt that this is a popular time of year to make some lifestyle changes, the problem is that we tend to set ourselves ambitious and unrealistic resolutions that are difficult to maintain," said Leanne Hall, a psychologist, nutritionist, and fitness expert. Aussies who concentrate on tiny adjustments and baby steps towards a healthier lifestyle are more likely to succeed in their endeavours.

Leanne offers her top five suggestions for helping Australians meet their health objectives in 2019.

Leanne shares her top five tips for how Aussies can stay on track with their health goals this year. 

1. Focus on creating new habits The concept of a New Year’s resolution is outdated. It encourages people to set themselves a huge target that’s often unrealistic and the result is that, more than often, they give up. Instead, focus on how you can create new habits that will help you reach your goals for the long-term.

2. Break goals down into small steps 

The first step to creating a new habit is to break your goal down into smaller steps. For example, rather than ‘losing weight’, try being more specific and including more sustainable changes such as ‘adding more leafy greens’ or ‘adding more regular exercise into my day’. Focusing on something positive you can add to your lifestyle, rather than removing ‘bad’ foods will also be helpful.

1. Get to know your current routine Everyone’s health goals and lifestyle are different. The only way you can make positive long-term change is by gaining an understanding of your current nutrition and exercise habits. By logging and tracking these habits, you can see more clearly the steps you can take to make a change. 

2. Keep track of your progress 

Australians cited setting specific, attainable goals as being the most crucial factor (25%), general repetition (18%), and obvious progress tracking (14%), when asked how to maintain healthy habits. Positive reinforcement works. One of the best ways to monitor your progress is through a tracking app like MyFitnessPal that will highlight the importance of rewarding progress, especially the small wins. 

1. Play the long game It’s important to challenge yourself but by making small changes that add up over time, you’re much more likely to stick to them. 

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