4 tips to help keep your New Year’s goals

Jan. 2, 2025 

Contact: Dawn Bryant 

Tidelands Health  
(843) 652-1636 

dbryant@tidelandshealth.org 

News for Immediate Release: 

4 tips to help keep your New Year’s goals 

New year, new you – right? 

For many, Jan. 1 is the starting line for new beginnings and new goals. Maybe you want to lose weight, improve sleep health or make more time for self-care. Regardless of your goals, making sure they’re attainable and sustainable is key to staying on track. 

A new survey shows top goals in 2025 include saving more money, eating healthier, exercising more, losing weight and spending more time with friends and family. 

Here are four tips to keep in mind as you’re setting and working toward your goals: 

Write down your goals 

Clearly defining your goals can help you maintain focus and motivation, said Paige Weaver, a physician assistant at Tidelands Health Family Medicine at Murrells Inlet. 

“Working toward any goal without a plan in place can lead to failure if you find yourself facing an obstacle or setback,” said Weaver. “Being really clear with your goals so they’re not just a passing thought will help set you up for success.” 

Don’t neglect healthy sleep habits 

Sleep can play a huge role in your ability to stay motivated toward meeting your goals, Weaver said. 

“Try to prioritize getting at least seven hours of sleep each night,” she said. “Quality sleep is so important to how the rest of our day will go. Stress can absolutely impact your ability to fall and stay asleep, so keeping that in check can also go a long way.” 

Sleep deprivation can significantly impact cognitive function, which can make it harder to focus, put in effort and drive to reach your goals. 

Weaver recommends limiting screentime at least 30 minutes before bed and avoiding caffeine after 2 p.m. Even if you feel you aren’t affected much by caffeine, try the practice for two weeks and gauge results, she said. 

Set small goals and stick to a routine 

It is easy to get overwhelmed if you find yourself taking on too much all at once. If you are trying to lose weight and increase exercise, Weaver recommends taking it little by little to help stay on track. 

“You’re probably going to lose motivation at some point,” Weaver said. “But that’s where your routine will come into play to keep you on track. It’s OK to fall off the wagon—it’s expected. But give yourself grace and get back on track.” 

If you want to add more movement into your daily life, find something that brings you joy, Weaver said. Finding a workout buddy, taking up a sport or participating in an exercise class, like the ones offered at the YMCA of Coastal Carolina, can help hold you accountable and keep you on track. 

Tidelands Health is the exclusive health system partner of the YMCA of Coastal Carolina, including Claire Chapin Epps Family YMCA in Myrtle Beach, Tidelands Health Pawleys Family YMCA and Tidelands Health Georgetown Family YMCA.  

Watch out for restrictive or unrealistic long-term goals 

If you set the bar too high, you may set yourself up for failure by creating goals that aren’t attainable or sustainable over time, such as trying to lose large amounts of weight quickly. These types of goals can also be unhealthy, said Windsor Lynch, registered dietitian with Tidelands Health. 

“We tend to like these things to happen quickly, and when it comes to long-term weight loss, it is not a quick process,” Lynch said. “But small, meaningful changes will add up in the long run. One tip is to not take the bag of chips with you to the couch and eat while you’re watching TV. Instead, be more deliberate about what you’re eating and take time to really savor your food and enjoy it.” 

Aim to eat healthier overall instead of dieting. Lynch recommends adding healthy items you enjoy to your meals, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts and seeds. And when you go grocery shopping, stick to the outer ring of the store and focus on food without a food label or only a few ingredients on the label. 

If you find yourself unable to stick with your goals, Weaver said finding a support system or health care provider you trust can help. 

“If you feel hopeless and helpless and you’re fighting for the energy to just do your daily life, you may need some type of assistance,” Weaver said. “We’re here to help you reach your health goals and will walk with you on this journey to help keep you motivated and on track.” 

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About Tidelands Health 

Tidelands Health, in collaboration with MUSC Health, is the region’s largest health care provider, serving the Carolinas at four hospitals and more than 70 outpatient locations. More than 2,500 employee, physician and volunteer partners work side by side with our communities to transform the health of our region – promoting wellness, preventing illness, encouraging recovery and restoring health.