How to Actually Achieve Your Goals in 2026

Ah, summer. The smell of sunscreen. The sizzle of sausages on the BBQ. The quiet joy of empty roads. And, of course, the annual promise that this year will be the year you wake up at 5am, run 10km, eat grey porridge and completely transform the trajectory of your life by February.

Fast forward to now. It's mid-February and your alarm is being snoozed for the fifth time. Those January resolutions are slowly starting to feel like a distant memory. Sound familiar? We can relate.

Every year, ambitious goals are set with the best intentions. But as summer fades and real life returns, so too does our motivation.

Why me?

One of the biggest reasons New Year's resolutions don't last is that they're often built on unrealistic expectations. It always seems like the best idea to overhaul your life and change everything at once - diet, sleep, fitness, productivity, finances and mindset. But the missing piece of the puzzle is to consider how these goals will fit into our current lives.

Research continuously shows that setting overly ambitious targets, whilst set with great intentions, can often result in

• Burnout
• Disappointment
• Guilt
• Feelings of failure

When goals become overwhelming, many people give up altogether, not because of a lack of discipline, but because the plan was never sustainable to begin with on January 1.

Lifestyle is more important than willpower

Population health experts explain that sustainable goals are no 'one size fits all'. What works for one person may not work for another depending on work schedules, health, family commitments, finances and baseline energy levels.

That's why lasting change is only achievable when they're built into your lifestyle, holistically.

For example:

• A goal to 'exercise more' works better when paired with short walks after meals.
• A goal to 'save money' works better when supported by simple budgeting habits like reducing your coffee intake by one a day.
• A goal to 'eat healthier' works better when quick, affordable meals are planned ahead
• When goals fit into your routine, research suggests that they're more likely to stick.

Start small to achieve big

One of the most powerful (and underrated) strategies for success is taking that first step.

Instead of "I'll go to the gym every day"

• Why not try: "I'll move my body twice a week"

Instead of "I'll never look at Mcdonalds again"

• Why not try: "I'll add one healthy meal each day"

Small, consistent changes build confidence and confidence is essential to momentum.

Sometimes a goal no longer suits your life, and that's okay. Shifting or quitting your goal is not a failure. Life changes, priorities shift and with that, your goals need to adapt. That's normal.

Progress over Perfection

Rather than treating resolutions as a test of willpower, view resolutions as tools to improve your quality of life.

Continuously checking in to ask yourself:

• Does this goal support my happiness?
• Is it realistic for my current life?
• Can I maintain this in six months' time?

It's easy to dream for a quick fix... but habit stacking over a long period of time is proven to create sustainable goals that will actually last this time.

2026 is YOUR year

Practical, flexible and realistic goals will always win in the long term. The most successful goals aren't extreme. Think about the progress you've made over time. How did you achieve these goals and how were they different to the others in your life?

• This year, remember:
• Progress over perfection
• Consistency over intensity
• Balance to avoid Burnout.

Lasting change doesn't look like a "new you" overnight. It's about finding ways to become a more confident version of your current self - even if this means small steps to your end point.