New Year, New You? Forming (and Keeping!) New Habits in 2026
The New Year brings the potential of hope. Hope for change, improvement, and things finally being different in all the ways you’ve dreamed about the previous year. Which sounds great! Buuuut, how many years have you gone through this cycle? Of the New Year being “Your Year”? It’s relatable, just usually not the reality. A lesson we tend to learn again and again, year after year.
So, how do we stop this cycle and make positive changes that actually stick? Well, let’s start with adjusting expectations to be more realistic at the start of 2026. Here are a few useful questions to ask yourself to determine what you’re looking for, and how to achieve it:
1. What are you looking to change, and why? Ask yourself, “What do I want to be different about my life?”
Then, reflect on your “why”: what would this change actually mean to you? It’s more likely that personally valued change and resolutions are the ones you will be motivated to stick with.
Put simply, make your New Year's resolutions about something you care about!
2. What’s your resolution, and how will you know you’ve achieved it? New Year’s resolutions are often personal and reflective of both where someone currently is in life and where they’d like to be. Determine realistic resolutions, such as small and sustainable changes rather than expecting a complete 180, including how you would know you’ve stuck with your commitment to positive change.
An example of knowing when you’ve achieved your resolutions might be how your life would be meaningfully different compared to how it is now.
3. What’s a reasonable timeframe for accomplishing your resolutions? A recent review of 20 scientific studies found that “health-related habit formation indicates that while habits can start forming within about two months, the time required varies significantly across individuals” (Singh et al., 2024, article link is below). This means that expanding your expectations for change to occur over the span of months rather than just weeks or days may be more realistic. It’s also helpful to recognize that it may take continued effort throughout the year to achieve your resolution.
Perfection is not a realistic goal, but commitment over time is!
While this may initially sound discouraging, this can be an opportunity for self-empowerment and compassion. Keep showing up for yourself, anticipating that some days you might not achieve your resolutions, and consider the next day as an opportunity to try again. Re-evaluate as needed, remember that resolutions and maintaining change often take continued commitment over time, and that you’ve got this!
Ready to start working towards your best self in the New Year? Let's do it together! Viewpoint offers telehealth throughout Kentucky or in person counseling at our locations in Florence, Crestview Hills, Ft. Thomas and now in Georgetown, KY!!
Wishing you well in 2026-- -Dr. Libby Wertz and the Viewpoint Team
To get started with one of our therapists, fill out our online intake form here or call our intake coordinator, Kim, at 859.594.7346 today!Article link: Singh, B., Murphy, A., Maher, C., & Smith, A. E. (2024). Time to Form a Habit: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Health Behaviour Habit Formation and Its Determinants. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 12(23), 2488. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12232488
