How to Actually Stick to Your New Year’s Resolutions - Starting This December

Most people wait until January 1st to “start fresh.” But the truth is, the best time to prepare for your New Year’s resolutions is now, not after the holidays.

The weeks before the new year set the tone for how you’ll feel and act once it begins. If December turns into a month of overindulgence and skipped routines, January becomes harder than it needs to be.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy the season. Food, connection, and celebration are part of what make it special. But enjoyment doesn’t have to mean losing control.

Here’s how to find balance now, so you can start the year feeling strong and set yourself up for success.

1. Drop the “holiday exception” mindset

It’s easy to think, “I’ll get back on track after the holidays.” But that mindset often turns a few festive meals into weeks of overeating, sugar spikes, and poor sleep.

You don’t need to be strict, you just need to stay aware. A balanced dinner and an extra cookie still count as progress. It’s consistency, not perfection, that protects your metabolism and energy.

2. Eat slowly and practice mindful eating

When you eat slowly, you enjoy food more and eat less without effort. Pause between bites. Taste what’s on your plate. Notice when you feel satisfied instead of waiting until you’re full. Studies have associated faster eating with increased BMI and obesity (Van den Boer et al., 2017).

Mindful eating helps your digestion, reduces cravings, and prevents the “holiday hangover” feeling that often carries into January.

3. Keep one daily habit steady

Choose one simple habit you’ll keep no matter what: a morning walk, hydration goal, or bedtime routine. Stability in one area helps prevent the “all-or-nothing” spiral and keeps your system grounded.

4. Reflect before setting resolutions

Instead of rushing to write a list on December 31st, take a few quiet moments each week to notice how your current habits make you feel—physically and mentally.

By January, your resolutions won’t be based on guilt or impulse. They’ll come from clarity and self-awareness.

The Bottom Line

You don’t need a dramatic restart to make change. You can begin now, while still enjoying the season.

Eat with attention. Move your body. Rest when you need to.

Start living the habits you want to continue, so that when the new year arrives, you’re already in motion.

At Kyma Health, we guide our members through this exact process; transforming goals into lasting habits.

You get a personalized plan built around your blood results, metabolism, and lifestyle. But more importantly, you’re not doing it alone. Each member has a dedicated health coach who keeps them accountable, helps them stay consistent, and adjusts their plan as life changes.

If you’re ready to make your resolutions actually work this year, you can start your Kyma journey today.

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References

• _{Van den Boer, J.H., Kranendonk, J., van de Wiel, A. et al. Self-reported eating rate is associated with weight status in a Dutch population: a validation study and a cross-sectional study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 14, 121 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-017-0580-1}