New Years Resolutions Template: How to Set Health and Nutrition Goals for 2024

 

Happy 2024! Are you on the search for a new years resolutions template to set up your health and nutrition goals for 2024?

 

It’s common to use the new year as an opportunity to start fresh and set goals for the upcoming year. For many people, this includes goals related to health and wellness. 

However, not all health and nutrition goals are created equal. If you want to succeed in 2024, it’s essential to set realistic and sustainable goals. 

In today’s article, I’ll cover the dos and don’ts for setting health and nutrition resolutions. I also include a new years resolutions template you can use yourself so that you can set up your new Years Resolutions and to learn how to set up  your health and nutrition goals for 2024.

 

Let’s get started!

 

Is your goal to lose weight in 2024? If so, check out my blog post on 4 non-nutrition tips for weight loss. 

 

Importance of Health and Nutrition Goals in 2024

New year’s resolutions are a powerful time to set goals because many of us are in the mindset for a fresh start. 

 

While you can (and should) set goals for yourself year-round, the new year is often an extra source of motivation. 

 

Regarding your health, it’s critical to be honest with yourself about what you can improve on. Do you want to improve your energy levels? Are you looking to lose x number of pounds? 

 

Consider which health and nutrition goals mean something to you and will increase your overall quality of life. 

 

Make 2024 the year you decide to take control of your health and finally address the issues you’ve been dealing with year after year! 

 

Examples of General Health and Nutrition Goals

 

• Run your first 5k
• Eat more fiber
• Lower your cholesterol levels
• Up your protein intake
• Stick with a nutritious meal plan
• Improve your energy levels
• Lose x number of pounds
• Meal prep food consistently
• Be able to run around with your kids

 

Next, I will get into specific dos and don’ts for setting health and nutrition goals.

 

What to Do When Setting Health and Nutrition Goals

 

Here are 5 easy things you CAN do to ensure you will stick to your new years resolutions and set yourself up for success. 

 

Reflect on last year’s successes and failures

 

Reviewing and reflecting on the resolutions you set last year can help you prepare to set new resolutions this year.

 

What worked? What didn’t? What barriers were in the way if you didn’t accomplish your resolutions? 

 

Ask yourself these questions as an excellent starting point before setting new resolutions. Doing this will guide you with what you can change to ensure you don’t fall off this time around.

 

Write it down

 

Write your resolution down in your journal, on a whiteboard, or in your calendar. Having your resolution in writing helps it feel more concrete and is an extra source of encouragement. 

 

Bonus tip: write your resolutions down on flash cards and put them around your home. For example, post your nutrition goals on your fridge to see whenever you go to grab food.

 

Find an accountability partner

 

An accountability partner may be the missing piece of your puzzle regarding your health new year resolutions. 

 

Scientific studies confirm that accountability support can increase adherence to behavior changes.

 

Find an accountability partner with a resolution similar to yours so they can help hold you accountable for your goal. You can text, call, or meet up with this partner regularly. 

 

Examples of how to work with an accountability partner:

• Find someone who goes to your gym or wants to sign up for workout classes together
• Befriend people virtually who have similar health goals to you
• Join a live program that involves a group setting

 

Be flexible

 

Things happen, and life can be unpredictable. It’s essential to have room for flexibility with your resolutions. 

 

When your resolutions are too rigid, and life gets in the way, you may feel inclined to give up instead of seeing them through.

 

Try to predict challenges that may come in the way of your resolutions and how you can overcome them. Show yourself grace and patience if you need to pivot in a different direction. 

 

Set up your environment

 

The environment around you is a huge determinant of your goals. To achieve your resolutions, set up your environment for success.

 

What can this look like? 

 

If you aim to eat healthier for the new year, stock your pantry and fridge with nutritious food options, making you less likely to reach for unhealthy choices. 

 

Or, if you want to run your first 5k, get yourself a new pair of running shoes that fit well and feel supportive. 

 

Track your progress

 

It’s vital to track your progress throughout the year on your resolutions. You can do this in the same journal you initially wrote them down in. 

 

Tracking your progress assists you with staying on top of your resolutions and staying motivated to complete them. 

 

What NOT to Do When Setting Health and Nutrition Goals

 

So now that you know what to do when setting health new years resolutions, let’s get into what NOT to do. 

 

These details can differentiate between achieving your health goals and going off track. 

 

Make it too complex or too vague

 

One common mistake when setting health and nutrition goals is making them too complex or vague. 

 

When your resolutions are too complex, you might not know where to start and feel easily overstimulated. However, if your resolutions are too vague, you might not be able to see a clear path to get there.

 

Be specific with your resolutions, but avoid making them too complicated. 

 

Have too many different resolutions

 

While it’s great to have a lot of goals, having too many different resolutions can be overwhelming and confusing.

 

If you try to do too much at once, you’re less likely to stick with everything because it isn’t sustainable to keep up with.

 

Instead, stick to setting a few health and nutrition resolutions that mean a lot to you. Then, you can put all your attention into ensuring these resolutions are met at the end of the year.

 

Not include your steps to get there

 

Okay, you’ve set your resolution… but how will you get there? 

 

When deciding on your goals for the new year, including a few steps necessary to help you get there can be highly beneficial. 

 

It helps your mind see a roadmap from start to finish of how you will make this resolution happen. And it doesn’t need to be complicated, either. 

 

See the new years resolutions template below for an example!

 

Set unrealistic time frames

 

Another huge mistake people make when setting resolutions is creating an unrealistic timeframe. 

 

While it’s good to have a timeframe in mind, if you set an unrealistic one and don’t meet it, you’ll likely feel discouraged and fall off after.

 

On the flip side, if you give yourself a realistic timeframe, you’ll be much more likely to accomplish it and feel good about yourself! 

 

Many sources say that it takes at least 21 days to build a new habit consistently, so I recommend making your resolution timeframes at least 4-6 weeks out.

 

However, recent studies conclude it could take up to 256 days to sustain a habit, so depending on your resolution, you may want to consider a longer timeframe.

 

New Years Resolutions Template

 

It may be helpful to have a template to fill out for each of your resolutions to ensure you’re thinking through and reflecting on the right things. 

 

Here is one example that you can use below. 

 

For each of your resolutions, fill in this new years resolutions template:

 

• What is your resolution?
• Timeframe? 
• What are 3-5 steps you will take to get there?
• What is 1 thing I can do if I fall off to get me back on track?

 

For example, if your goal is to lose 20 pounds, your template may look like this:

• What is your resolution? To lose 20 pounds

• What is your timeframe? 8 months 

• What are 3-5 steps you will take to get there? Eat more fiber, book a call with a registered dietitian, go to the gym 4 days a week, and start meal prepping on Sunday. 

• What is 1 thing I can do if I fall off to get me back on track? If I fall off, I will book a follow-up appointment with my dietitian and find a workout partner who can accompany me a few days a week. 

 

New Years Resolutions Go: The Takeaway

 

Don’t let this be the year that you look back at your resolutions and aren’t satisfied with your results.

 

By following this new years resolutions template, you’ll set yourself up for success with your health and nutrition goals. Remember to keep your goals realistic and attainable, and be careful not to go overboard. 

 

Are you ready to take the leap in 2024 and dial in on your nutrition? Book an appointment with me for nutrition coaching today! 

 

Nutrition coaching with John Canlas Nutrition will give you the knowledge, support, and accountability to FINALLY be able to reach your health and weight loss goals this year. 

 

It’s time to make the changes necessary to truly see a difference. I work with clients in person and virtually at my Concord, CA office and can provide nutrition counseling services to clients virtually as well. Contact me today!