Stop the Resolution Cycle: How To Adopt A Long-Term Approach to Real Change

Happy New Year dear subscribers and readers, and welcome back! This year, I want to kick off the 2025 Alex Unplugged Series with a trending and serious topic: resolutions.

Every year, we see it: January rolls in and our feeds fill with bold declarations of New Year’s resolutions. “This is the year I’ll lose weight,” “I’ll finally get that promotion,” or “I’m going to quit sugar and exercise daily.” But by February, most resolutions are long abandoned and people are left feeling guilty or like they’ve failed yet again.

Me too, I have failed and felt that way. My instagram feed (still today lol) is filled with stuff I should or should not do. Motivational reels, recommendations, dietary videos and success stories. However, today I'd like to share my personal success story with you. Why? Because, it is possible to fulfil resolutions - it might just take more time and consistency.

First of all, here’s the truth: New Year’s resolutions don’t work because they focus on big, drastic changes or goals instead of sustainable habits. They rely on a sudden burst of motivation rather than building long-term systems for success.

I learned this firsthand during my two-year journey to transform my body and health, a journey that couldn’t have succeeded if I’d relied on the ideal of "resolutions" alone.

My Journey: Evolution Over Resolutions

In 2022, I decided to prioritise my health - not as a quick fix, but as a sustainable transformation. My goal wasn’t just to “lose weight” but to feel better in my skin, stronger, healthier and more in tune with my body. I didn’t overhaul my entire life overnight...that just seemed too huge of an iceberg. Instead, I started with small, manageable steps that became habits over time.

Here’s how it worked for me (and still does!):

1. Tracking Progress with Withings and Logging Calories: I began by understanding my baseline. Using the Withings app and scale, I tracked my weight and logged my meals. Tracking my calories helped me understand portion sizes and the nutritional value of what I was eating. It wasn’t about restriction - it was about awareness.
2. Interval Fasting: I adopted intermittent fasting, a practice I still follow today (even if not as strictly as for the first 2 years). It wasn’t about deprivation but about aligning my eating patterns with what felt good for my body.
3. Creating a Workout Routine with Les Mills: I started with more cardio and weights, particularly Body Combat and Body Pump using Les Mills International programs to guide my workouts. I didn’t push myself too hard at first - I focused on consistency. Over time, as I saw progress, I felt motivated to keep going.
4. No Starvation, No Cutting My Favourite Foods: I still enjoyed my favourite meals (with pasta in the foreground), but I learned to stop eating when I was full. My crazy cravings diminished as I gave my body what it needed rather than what it thought it wanted.
5. Adapting and Evolving Over Time: By 2024, I had lost 10 kilograms, reduced my body fat below 20% and shifted my focus to toning and strength. I introduced more HIIT and weight training into my routine, and I see my body evolve even further.

Now, in 2025, my focus is on building more muscle and maintaining a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. I’m no longer chasing a number on the scale; rather I have been focused building a strong foundation for my future self. A kind reminder that I took 2 years to be there, where I am today.

Why Resolutions Fail (and What Worked Instead)

Reflecting on my journey, here’s what I learned about why resolutions fail and what truly works:

• Resolutions are too rigid. Life isn’t predictable and neither is progress. Flexibility and adaptation are key.
• They rely on willpower. Building habits and systems is far more reliable than trying to power through with motivation alone. So, just keep it going!
• They’re outcome-focused, not process-focused. Instead of aiming for a vague goal like “lose weight,” I focused on small daily actions like logging meals or completing a workout.

What You Can Do Today

If you’re ready to move beyond the cycle of failed resolutions, here’s where to start:

1. Set Micro-Goals: Choose one small, actionable step to focus on this week - whether it’s drinking more water, walking 15 minutes a day or journaling.
2. Track Progress: Use tools like Withings, Things, Notion, Yazio or even a simple journal to track your habits and celebrate small wins.
3. Focus on Sustainability: Ask yourself, “Can I maintain this for the next six months?” If the answer is no, adjust. Set realistic goals.
4. Be Patient: Transformation doesn’t happen overnight. Give yourself time to evolve. The key is to continue, even if the previous week did not go as you planned.

Remember: it is not a sprint but a marathon. Long-term change takes time, constant work and dedication.

2025: The Year of Evolution

For me, 2025 isn’t about resolutions - it’s about continuing the evolution. That includes my physical and mental health progress, as well as my professional progress. So whether it’s your physical health, career or personal growth, focus on the long game.

If you’re tired of the resolution cycle, I invite you to take a step back and think about your evolution. What’s one small change you can make today that aligns with your values and vision?

Let’s start the conversation: What’s your long-term goal for 2025 and what’s your first step toward making it a reality?

About the author: Alexandra is an award winning tech-lawyer and serial entrepreneur who has been active in the gaming, tech and e-commerce fields. She is a lawyer specialised in commercial contracts, IP & IT law and holds two LL.M.s from King's College London and University of Paris I: Panthéon-Sorbonne. She has lived in 7 countries & 3 continents to date and speaks 4 languages. She enjoys to connect and network with like-minded individuals and entrepreneurs.