Written by Lauren Dorman, Registered Dietitian
Lauren Dorman is known as a game-changing Registered Dietitian. She is the founder of Don't Diet Dietitian and Schools, Master Food and Mood. She is a speaker, and expert in Nutrition, Food Psychology, and Emotional Eating. She developed The Nine to Nourished Experience, 9 core strategies to refuel one's relationship with food, body, and brain.
How can you make your New Year’s resolutions stick in 2025 and beyond? As the new year approaches, millions of people around the world promise themselves they will adopt healthier habits. However, research shows that only about 8% of these individuals actually achieve their resolutions. Why? Most resolutions are based on fad diets and short-term habits that fail to consider the complexities of the human brain.
Dieting and focusing on weight loss alone might seem like the natural solution for many, but it actually contributes to the problem. The more you restrict, control, or try to stick to a rigid plan, the more your brain perceives food as the enemy. This creates stress and a sense of being out of control. Every time you say, “I can’t have that,” or, “I will be good tomorrow,” you reinforce negative thoughts that typically lead to guilt and shame. You may even feel like food controls your life more than you do! Struggling with food has more to do with the mind and brain wiring than with the food itself.
When it comes to health and food behaviors, nutrition plays a critical role. However, making lasting changes to our eating habits requires more than just willpower and motivation. Similar to a cellphone battery, willpower is a limited resource. You can’t “out-diet” or “out-willpower” your brain.
By applying brain science to our resolutions, we can create a roadmap for success that considers the neural mechanisms driving our behavior. To see new results, are you willing this time to try something different? To disrupt old, disempowering brain patterns and create new, empowering ones?
If you tried to fix a car’s engine without looking under the hood, would you get very far? Similarly, no matter what “perfect” health plan you follow, if you don’t address certain brain strategies at a root level, you’re likely to revert to what’s familiar by the end of January.
Using brain science, let’s explore five evidence-backed strategies to help make your healthy New Year's resolutions stick in 2025 and beyond.
1. Leverage the power of neuroplasticity with micro habits
Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to reorganize and adapt throughout life. It allows you to rewire the way your brain thinks, feels, and responds. By leveraging the power of neuroplasticity, you can create new neural pathways that support healthy habits. Micro habits are small, achievable behaviors that can help build momentum and create lasting change.
For example, if you want to start eating more fruits and vegetables, your micro habit might be to eat one extra serving of produce per day. By starting small and building gradually, you'll create new neural pathways that support healthy eating habits.
2. Use the power of visualization to prime your brain for healthy choices
Visualization is a powerful tool that can help prime your brain for healthy habits. When you visualize yourself performing a behavior, your brain creates a mental simulation of that behavior, which can increase your motivation and confidence to perform it.
Former competitive swimmer Michael Phelps, who won 28 Olympic medals during his career, has spoken about the power of mental preparation and visualization in achieving his success. His techniques helped him prepare for high-pressure situations, such as when his goggles filled with water, severely impacting his vision. As he shared, “I prepared for this situation in my mind, so I was calm and focused under the pressure.” Despite the setback, he went on to win the gold medal for that event.
It is important to realize that your brain does not know the difference between real and imagined experiences. It processes each experience as though it is actually happening. By taking action on visualization, you can enhance muscle memory, boost confidence, and optimize your performance to achieve your goals.
To use visualization to your advantage, try the following exercise: Find a quiet, comfortable space to sit or lie down. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Visualize yourself making healthy choices, such as preparing a balanced meal or moving your body. Think about what could go wrong and how you might handle your thoughts, feelings, and actions. Imagine the sights, sounds, and feelings associated with these behaviors. Visualize yourself feeling confident, motivated, and successful.
3. Harness the power of emotional regulation with mindful eating
For many, food becomes the fastest way to soothe stressful emotions like boredom, loneliness, sadness, and anger. Each time these emotions arise, you seek comfort and safety, turning to food as a coping mechanism. While this provides temporary relief through dopamine, it never truly fills the void you feel, such as the stress you are trying to escape or the emotional emptiness you are attempting to soothe.
Emotional regulation is the ability to manage and regulate your emotions in response to different situations. When it comes to food and eating, emotional regulation is critical for making helpful choices. Mindful eating, the practice of paying attention to your physical and emotional sensations while eating, can assist in developing a healthier relationship with food.
To practice mindful eating, try the following: Eat slowly and savor your food, paying attention to its sights, sounds, and smells. Notice your physical sensations, such as hunger and fullness cues. Recognize and manage emotional triggers, such as stress or boredom. By practicing mindful eating, you’ll develop greater emotional regulation and make choices that better align with your values and long-term health desires.
4. Leverage the power of social influence with accountability partners
Social influence is a powerful force that can either support or undermine your healthy habits. By surrounding yourself with people who encourage and support these habits, you’ll be more likely to stick to the resolutions you’ve made.
To leverage the power of social influence, try the following:
Share your resolutions with a friend or family member and ask them to hold you accountable.
Join a health or fitness community to connect with like-minded individuals.
Find an accountability partner to support and motivate you.
You can also work with a Registered Dietitian who can guide, support, and empower you toward a healthier lifestyle.
5. Use the power of reward processing with non-food items
Reward processing is the brain's way of responding to pleasurable activities. When you engage in healthier behaviors, your brain rewards you with feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. However, relying on food rewards can create unhealthy associations and undermine your progress.
To use the power of reward processing to your advantage, try the following:
Identify non-food rewards that bring you pleasure and satisfaction, such as reading a book or taking a relaxing bath.
Create a reward system that acknowledges and celebrates these choices.
Use non-food rewards to motivate and reinforce healthy behaviors.
By practicing this regularly, you'll create healthier associations and reinforce positive behaviors.
Making healthy New Year's resolutions stick in 2025 requires more than just willpower, discipline, and motivation. By applying brain science to your resolutions, you can create a roadmap to success that considers the neural mechanisms driving your behavior. These 5 Brain-Backed Strategies hold the power to yield lasting changes in both health habits and food behaviors.
Are you interested in setting and finally achieving your New Year’s goals? I’d be happy to share a roadmap with the 9 Core Ingredients to create a healthy and strong relationship with food, body, and mind.
Please click here to download
Lauren Dorman, Registered Dietitian
Lauren Dorman is a dedicated Registered Dietitian, helping both children and adults to address the real root solution that enables them to feel more calm, confident, and empowered around food, body, mind, and self. She is the creator of the Nine to Nourished Experience, 9 effective ingredients that lay the foundation to create a satisfying relationship with food that will allow you to thrive. For those who think they have "tried everything," healing at the root cause can shift all areas of life. Her mission: sustainable success is all about tending to a process that feels good to you.
