DYK that approximately 80% of resolutions fail by the second week in February? Why? Because dramatic and immediate changes are not sustainable long-term. So this year, make 2019 not a year of resolutions or diets but one of incremental changes to instill habits that create real, long-lasting results. Here are six tips:

Do What You Enjoy

Commit to trying new things or even old things to remind yourself of what you enjoy. This is especially true for keeping active and fulfilling your body’s desire for movement and exercise. This can mean taking frequent walks through nature, biking, dancing, hiking, or yoga. Start taking the ballroom dancing lessons that you promised yourself you would try years ago. Take a barre method class, where you can let your inner ballerina shine. Better yet, put that music on full-blast while you prepare dinner, and dance like no one’s watching. It is not about perfection, it is about finding what you love to do and what brings a smile to your face, then it becomes fun and not something you don’t want to do.

Add Things, Don’t Remove Them

If your goal is to improve your nutrition to lose weight and improve your energy levels, try adding foods like vegetables into your diet. Find fun ways to prepare them to fit your taste buds. Often times if you start with a deprivation statement like, “I am going to stop eating all carbs,” then the only thing you will think about is carbs. When you introduce something new and start noticing the benefits of that change, then you are often inspired to move on and add the next change. Think addition not deprivation!

Stop Eating by 6 p.m.

If you want to encourage the body to burn fat for energy, stop eating by 6 or 7 p.m. This allows the body to put most of its energy into rejuvenating and restoring the body for the next day. It also gives the body all the time it needs to use up the sugar storage in the liver, then it can start burning the fat cells for needed energy.

Take Five Minutes To Stop & Breathe

If one of your goals is to be more mindful or to incorporate relaxation techniques to help you react to stressful events with more ease, then going from not meditating to promising to meditate every day for forty-five minutes a day may be a bit overwhelming.

Try this simple strategy, wake up in the morning, take a deep breath, record in a journal or on your phone one thing you are grateful for or appreciate. Read it out loud and follow with five slow breaths and really feel that joy. This way you are starting the habit and getting your body used to what relaxation and being in a state of gratitude feels like. During the day when things get hectic, pull out that book or play that recording and take five deep breaths. It is fast, easy and very effective for decreasing the effects of those stress reactions.

Go to Bed Fifteen Minutes Earlier

Work on getting a good night’s rest. A healthy amount of sleep helps you to be more alert, make better decisions, maintain a healthy weight, and look and feel younger. Go to bed fifteen minutes earlier each week for a month so you total an hour more of sleep. Remove all electronic devices in the bedroom that give off artificial light. This creates a bedtime routine that signals the body that it is time for bed.

Spend Your Time with Like-Minded People

Make an effort to spend more quality time connecting with family or friends. Individuals who have social connections suffer fewer symptoms of depression and may live longer, healthier lives. Also, establishing a support group can help you to stay on track with your goals. This may look like once every two weeks to a month spending time with your girlfriends on Skype or FaceTime to catch up.

Making these gradual changes can help you to create habits that will allow you to feel more energized, feel less stressed, think more clearly and make better choices. With each choice comes the opportunity to be the person you have always envisioned.

Eudene Harry MD is the medical director for Oasis Wellness and Rejuvenation Center, a wellness practice devoted to integrative holistic care. She is a veteran physician with over twenty years of experience. Dr. Harry earned her medical degree and performed her residency at Thomas Jefferson University. Her most recent book, Be Iconic: Healthy and Sexy at Any Age is now available on Amazon.

Connect with Dr. Harry on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. To learn more about Dr. Harry, please visit www.drharrymd.com.