New Year's resolutions: How to finally start the new year healthier

Veröffentlicht am: October 04, 2024

Nutritionist and dietician

Have you made new resolutions for this year? Or are you one of those people who don't make any resolutions at all because New Year's resolutions can never be kept anyway and the willpower fades after just a few days or weeks?

Herbano has the ultimate guide on how you can finally keep your resolutions. Because in order to realize our annual resolutions, we have to turn them into habits. We will reveal how to do this effectively below. First of all, we want to clarify the following question:

Why is it so difficult to keep resolutions?

This is not only due to a lack of self-control, but rather to our own reward system, which tricks our brain. This was confirmed in 2016 by a study at Johns Hopkins University. Our reward system remembers exactly what has apparently done us good in the past and then releases happiness hormones, regardless of whether these habits were really good or not. This means that we unconsciously have far less control over our habits than we think.

In order to keep your resolutions, you should set yourself specific goals and ideally develop a strategy for achieving them. Another reason why resolutions are abandoned after a few weeks is that the goals are not defined clearly enough for them to become habits. If these changes are really important to us, then the chances of successful implementation increase. If we believe in them, plan their implementation in concrete terms and set goals in this way, success is within our grasp.

66 days for a better ME

But it takes a little patience. And 66 days, to be precise. This is proven by a study from 2009, in which 96 participants took part. On average, after these 66 days, habits became automated. Another result of the study was the following: It is easier to develop new habits than to kick an existing vice, such as smoking or snacking. You should therefore also consider the feasibility of your plans!

How to "manipulate" yourself

Find a trigger that your brain can remember. For example, you can make a resolution to always go for a short walk after work. Your brain will remember that. When weaning off vices, on the other hand, you need to be careful not to trigger certain triggers. For example, if you want to reduce your sugar intake, put the sugar out of sight when making coffee or tea.

New Year's resolutions

No resolutions yet? Here are the top 4 from our community!

Would you like to eat healthier in the new year, manage stress better and generally take more care of yourself and your health? We have 4 tips for you that you can easily integrate into your everyday life.

Reduce stress
Breathing exercises are an effective way of quickly calming stress and anxiety. The 4-7-8 breathing exercises are ideal for this: breathe in for 4 seconds, then hold your breath for 7 seconds and breathe out for 8 seconds. Repeat this a few times.

Supplement wisely

With stress certain nutrients, such as magnesium or B vitamins, are also consumed to a greater extent. This is why the mineral and our anti-stress package with the adaptogen rose root (Rhodiola Rosea) and B vitamins are ideal for balancing stress hormones and the nutrient balance.

Once again ravenous appetite?
Simply take 15 drops of bitter cucumber 2 times a day on the tongue or diluted in water. This keeps your blood sugar stable and stops cravings.
Reduce sugar consumption
For example, you can eliminate or reduce the sugar in your coffee or tea and start the day with a balanced breakfast. This will also help you avoid blood sugar fluctuations. Instead of sweets, opt for healthy snacks such as fruit or nuts. It is also advisable to steer clear of ready-made products, as these often contain hidden sugar.

For those who have resolved to do more sport in the new year, we have another tip:

Our magnesium complex has a number of positive effects in relation to sporting activities:

A full magnesium reservoir can develop its full potential and promotes strength building
Magnesium citrate ensures faster recovery after exercise
Magnesium supports the body in the metabolism of carbohydrates
it ensures a balanced hormone balance and promotes the metabolism of cortisol after a workout
it prevents muscle pain and muscle cramps

As you can see, with the right guidance, annual resolutions are not that difficult to put into practice. Take your time and start incorporating small changes into your everyday life. You will see that after 66 days at the latest, you will find it much easier to keep your resolution.