Vowing to get into shape or to slim down are among the most common New Year’s resolutions. While efforts to lead a healthier lifestyle can be tremendously rewarding, goals that are too lofty are also more likely to be abandoned. Keeping things realistic will increase your chances of success in your efforts.

Making major changes to existing eating habits and fitness efforts can be quite challenging. Trying to lose too much weight too quickly is often a recipe for failure. Even those who are able to succeed with their resolution may be unable to keep the weight off in the long-run. Healthy, sustainable weight loss is a slow process that should be tackled one step at a time.

Setting a single, specific and achievable fitness goal is a smart move. Deciding to get into shape without bothering to set a specific goal means that efforts often lack direction. A more focused goal, especially one that can be easily quantified, can help you to stay motivated and on track.

Mental health can be just as important to your quality of life and overall well-being. Finding ways to reduce stress, resolving to take up a hobby or improving your appearance with a visit to an Invisalign dentistcan all help to improve your mood and self-confidence. Being happier and more relaxed in the coming year can count for more than you might think.

A new year can provide the perfect opportunity to give up an unhealthy habit. Giving up tobacco products or cutting fast food out of your diet can have significant health benefits. Giving up a bad habit as part of your New Year’s resolution can make it much easier to set and achieve your goal.

Not every resolution to live a healthier lifestyle needs to be difficult or strenuous. Learning to cook your own meals makes it easier to improve your nutrition and can also be a lot of fun. Cooking at home can also allow you keep within household budget.

Setting unrealistic goals can quickly lead to discouragement and apathy. Keeping things more realistic means that you will be far more likely to stick to your resolution. When it comes to changing things up and creating a healthier lifestyle, modest goals can often have the biggest impact.