5 things you can do this New Year to feel your best - without starting another unsustainable diet or exercise program.

The new year often brings pressure to overhaul our routines, shrink our bodies, or commit to a strict diet and exercise plan to achieve quick results. But for many of us, January is right

in the middle of the most mentally and physically draining season of the year. There is a reason that strict plans don’t work for us: they ignore the nuance of daily life and only add more stress to our plates when we inevitably fail to keep up what we promised to do.

This year, start the year feeling positively and try out some of the following realistic, sustainable things that are scientifically proven to help you feel better in 2026, and ditch detoxes, guilt, and rigid rules for good.

1. Choose one small habit you can actually maintain.

Not three.

Just one small, consistent habit—like adding a protein source to lunch, taking a 10-minute walk after school, or drinking a glass of water before your first coffee. Small habits are powerful because you can keep them up even when life gets busy.

2. Give your body enough fuel throughout the day.

One of the best things you can do for your body and mind is to eat consistently - this means starting your day with an actual breakfast! Just like a car can’t run on an empty tank, you can’t expect to have the mental and physical energy you need if you’re going hours upon hours throughout the day without any food.

3. Stop aiming for perfection, aim for consistency.

One missed workout or one poorly planned meal doesn’t undo your progress. All-or-nothing thinking is what keeps people stuck in the cycle of starting over every January, so this year try to let go of the need to do anything perfectly. Just doing it at all is a huge positive and should be celebrated!

4. Focus on how you feel, not what you weigh.

Our bodies are highly adapted to keep us at a certain weight based on several different factors, many of which are outside our control. What we can control is how we feel, so instead of making decisions based on what you think will lead to a certain weight change, ask yourself: What habits help me feel more energized, powerful, and satisfied?

Properly nourishing yourself will allow your body to find its healthiest size without any restriction required.

5. Don’t forget about rest.

This doesn’t mean watching Netflix for hours on end or scrolling on Reels while eating lunch - we’re talking about real rest. Unplug from social media regularly, do something that relaxes you, and take days off from exercise when you’re feeling run-down. One of the biggest reasons one-size-fits-all fitness programs don’t last longer than February is because progress is expected quickly and your body isn’t getting the proper recovery time that it needs to feel energized and ready for the next workout.

Don't forget that, when it comes to fitness, real improvements happen during the recovery after the workout, not during the workout itself.

If you’re looking for a supportive, realistic way to feel better this year, I’m leading a 12-week virtual group program this January called Not Another New Year’s Resolution, designed specifically to help you build sustainable, feel-good habits around nutrition, movement, and self-care—without restriction, guilt, or rules. It’s a safe, supportive space for anyone who’s tired of starting over and ready to feel better for good.

You can join the early-access list here to stay up-to-date on program enrollment and start date: trulyfuelednutrition.com/12weeks