The New Year can be a great time for a fresh start, but many people attempt a complete overhaul of their diet in January, which fizzles out within a few weeks because well, it's just too much change all at once. In reality, changing your diet is a lot like learning to speak a new language, or learning to play a musical instrument – it takes practice and patience, and you may need to take it one step at a time to prevent burnout.
So, this year, instead of a drastic approach that isn’t sustainable, try a “step ladder” tactic. Focus on just one concrete goal at a time. Once one change feels like a normal part of your routine, set another goal, then another. Yes, you’ll be making slower progress, but you won’t feel overwhelmed. And the changes you make will be much more likely to “stick.” Plus, you can celebrate your smaller successes along the way, which will snowball into big results as you progress throughout the year.