The story you already know

You start the year motivated. You set bold goals. You promise yourself, “This time I’m doing it for real.”

 

Then real life shows up: work, family, stress, travel, schedules, cravings, missed days, and that one moment where your brain decides, “Welp, it’s ruined, so I’m done.”

 

If you’ve been there, congratulations. You’re a human.

 

And you’re not failing because you lack motivation. You’re failing because your plan is trying to run your life instead of fitting into it.

 

 

You’re the hero. The goal is feeling better.

Most people making New Year goals aren’t chasing perfection. They’re chasing a feeling:

•    more energy
•    better digestion and routine
•    a healthier rhythm
•    confidence in their consistency

A YouGov survey (Dec 2025) found common resolutions include exercising more, eating healthier, and improving physical health. 

So the real question isn’t “How do I become a new person overnight?”
It’s: How do I build a routine I can repeat when life gets busy?

 

 

The problem: goals are often too big, too vague, and too fragile

A huge goal sounds inspiring, but vague goals don’t tell your brain what to do on Tuesday at 2:17 p.m. when you’re tired and hungry.

That’s why psychologists recommend starting small and choosing attainable goals instead of one overwhelming, all-at-once reset. 

Also, fitness data has shown the drop-off moment hits early. Strava famously labeled mid-January as “Quitter’s Day” based on activity patterns. 
The takeaway: your plan needs to survive the first slump.

 

Meet your guide: a plan that’s built for real life

Here’s the good news: behavior science is painfully consistent about what works.

 

1) Build one habit, not a whole new personality

Habit formation research suggests habits take time to become automatic, with a widely cited study finding the median time to automaticity around 66 days (with wide variation). 
Translation: if you demand perfection in two weeks, you’ll quit in two weeks.

Your move: pick one small, repeatable action you can do even on imperfect days.

 

2) Use an “If-Then” plan (this is the cheat code)

Implementation intentions are simple: “If situation X happens, then I will do Y.”
Research and meta-analyses show that “if-then” planning improves follow-through compared to goals alone. 

Examples:

• If I’m about to eat lunch, I mix my tea 30 minutes before.

• If dinner is on the calendar, I set a quick reminder and drink my tea 30 minutes before.

• If my day gets chaotic, I still do the simple version: one sachet + water, then repeat before my next meal.

This is how you stop relying on motivation.

 

3) Set “approach goals,” not “avoidance goals”

A large-scale experiment on New Year’s resolutions found approach-oriented goals (do something) were more successful than avoidance-oriented goals (stop something). 

Instead of: “Stop eating junk”
Try:
•    “Add one better choice daily”
•    “Drink more water”
•    “Build a consistent wellness routine”

Approach goals give you something to do.

 

The 3-Step Consistency Plan (steal this)

Step 1: Choose one anchor habit.
Pick a daily moment that already happens: waking up, lunch, after work, evening wind-down.

Step 2: Keep it super-simple for 7 days.
Your first goal is not transformation. It’s repetition.

Step 3: Upgrade after you prove consistency.
After a week, you can scale: add movement, meal prep, tracking, etc. But earn that upgrade.

 

How TLC Teas can support your routine (without the hype)

If your goal this year is improving consistency around wellness, many customers choose a daily cleansing routine because it’s:

•    easy to repeat
•    convenient
•    simple to anchor to an existing habit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1GvAGxRDuo

TLC’s Iaso® Instant Tea and flavored instant teas are positioned to support gut health, digestion, and weight-management goals*. 

If you want a simple daily anchor, start there.
If you’re not ready, take the 7-day consistency plan and test it with any habit.

 

What’s at stake (and what you win)

If you don’t simplify: you’ll repeat the same cycle: big goals → busy week → guilt → quitting.
If you follow the plan: you’ll build a routine that survives real life, and that’s what creates real change.

 

Sources (reputable + linkable)

• American Psychological Association: tips for making resolutions last (small, attainable goals).
• Lally et al., habit formation and automaticity (European Journal of Social Psychology).
• Gollwitzer & Sheeran meta-analysis on implementation intentions (“if-then” planning).
• Oscarsson et al. (PLOS ONE, 2020): approach vs avoidance goals and resolution outcomes.
• YouGov (Dec 23, 2025): common resolutions for 2026 (exercise, healthier eating, physical health).
• Strava “Quitter’s Day” reporting based on activity data patterns.

 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Not intended for use by children. If you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications, consult your physician prior to use.