The best way to keep your New Years resolutions is to think in terms of changing your lifestyle rather than just one behavior. If you try to change a behavior while continuing the same old lifestyle, you’re not likely to succeed.

Changing lifestyle requires changing many behaviors over a period of time. For example, you won’t be able to start eating less without changing a variety of behaviors that contribute to overeating. You also need to think in terms of goals and break those goals down into small steps.

For example, if you want to lose 20 pounds, your focus should not be on losing the weight. You must develop a new way of eating, choose different foods, learn a new way of shopping and change your relationship with food. It must become your permanent way of life, not a temporary change in behavior.

You’ll want to set goals like identifying hidden food sensitivities, addressing Candida overgrowth, testing neurotransmitters, getting regular exercise, removing sugar, white flour and caffeine from your diet, eating more vegetables, eating more healthy fats and eating more protein.

In another example, if you want to reduce stress in your life, you set goals like practicing yoga weekly, getting more exercise, making time to meditate or relax, taking time to nurture yourself and getting more sleep.

As you incorporate these practices into your life on a regular basis, then your lifestyle changes over time and eventually you achieve your primary goal or resolution.

Make a plan that identifies your goal and break it down into steps, take it slow, replace old behaviors with new behaviors, congratulate yourself when you achieve a goal and get emotional support when needed.

You’re redefining who you are and how you live, which will make it easier to keep your New Years Resolutions and make permanent changes. However, this takes time. Change does not happen overnight, so be kind to yourself and don’t expect too much too quickly.