New Years Resolutions Don't Work - Here's Why

Now that we’re a few weeks into the new year, I wanted to check in - because for many women, this is when the pressure really ramps up.

The “new year, new you” messaging.
The urge to reset.
The quiet feeling that this is when you should finally get things “right”.

Before that voice gets any louder, I want to say this clearly:

If New Year’s resolutions haven’t worked for you in the past, that’s not a reflection of you.  It’s a sign that willpower-based approaches aren’t designed for real life.

Most resolutions are built on the same foundations:
eat less, be stricter, finally get disciplined.

They rely heavily on motivation and self-control, and often come with unspoken rules - I have to do this perfectly. I can’t slip up. If I do, I’ve failed.

The problem isn’t that people don’t try hard enough.

Research consistently shows that a large percentage of people abandon their New Year’s resolutions within the first few weeks of January - often before habits have even had a chance to form.

Why?

Because motivation fades once life returns to normal.
Stress increases.
Energy drops.
Routines get disrupted.

That doesn’t mean you didn’t want change badly enough.
It means the structure of most resolutions doesn’t match the reality of your life.

These approaches leave no space for the natural ebb and flow of real days - tired mornings, sickness, busy weeks, emotional moments, or the mental load so many women are carrying.

So when life inevitably doesn’t cooperate, the plan falls apart - not because you failed, but because it was too rigid to begin with.

That’s when the familiar cycle starts: guilt, frustration, and the promise to “start again” on Monday… or next month… or next year.

Real change needs flexibility.
It needs support.
It needs to work with your life, not demand perfection from it.

This is exactly what I support women with inside my work.

Not through more rules or another resolution to live up to - but by helping you understand what your body actually needs, how stress and emotions play a role, and how to build steadier habits that don’t collapse the moment life gets busy.

If you’re feeling stuck in the same start-stop cycle and want a calmer, more sustainable way forward this year, booking a free chat is a good next step.

There’s no pressure and no obligation - just a supportive conversation to explore what’s been getting in the way and what would actually help.

Book your complimentary chat here

Em xx

Em Anderson | Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition & Psychology) ~ Anti-dieting Nutritionist for Women ~ Certified Mind Body Eating Coach ~Remedial Massage Therapist

www.emmaanderson.com.au