The Post-Holiday Reset That Actually Works (Hint: It's Not What You Think)

It's January 1st, and my Instagram feed is already flooded with ads for juice cleanses, 30-day challenges, and "New Year, New You" transformations. Maybe you're seeing them too?

Part of you might be thinking, "Maybe I should do a cleanse after all those Christmas cookies..."

I hear you and I totally get it! After weeks of holiday indulgences, late nights, and disrupted routines, the idea of a dramatic fresh start feels appealing. Clean slate, clean eating, clean everything, right?

But here's what I've learned after 25+ years in this field, watching countless clients (and myself!) try and abandon these approaches: the "reset" that actually works isn't the one being sold to you in every January ad.

The Reset Trap We Fall Into

Let me paint you a picture. You decide January 1st that you're going to:

• Cut out sugar completely

• Work out 6 days a week

• Meal prep every Sunday

• Drink 80 ounces of water daily

• Be in bed by 9:30 PM

• Meditate every morning

  
  

Sound familiar?

By January 15th, you're already "off track”, and that little voice in your head starts whispering, "See? You can't stick to anything. Why did you even try?"

The problem isn't you. The problem is that dramatic resets are not sustainable long-term. Maybe you stick to the program for a couple weeks, or even a month, but then you're right back to where you were in the beginning because you can't maintain the extreme demands of the program (hello "75 Hard").

What Actually Works: The "All-or-Something" Reset

Instead of the all-or-nothing approach that has you swinging between perfect days and complete abandon, what if we tried something different?

What if your January reset looked more like this:

Instead of: "I'm cutting out all sugar" Try: "I'm going to add protein to my breakfast"

Instead of: "I'm working out an hour every day" Try: "I'm going to move my body for 20 minutes 5 days a week"

Instead of: "On Sunday, I'm meal prepping dinners for every night of the week” Try: "I'm going to plan ahead for three meals this week and prep the proteins ahead of time (hint: meatballs store well, as does ground turkey to reheat for a Mexican-inspired meal).

See the difference? We're not centering our actions on extreme restriction or aiming for “perfection”. We're adding small, sustainable habits that actually fit into your life.

The Four Pillars of a Realistic Reset

1. Start Small

I'm talking so small it feels almost silly. Want to drink more water? Start with one extra glass. Haven’t been exercising and want to move more? Start with a 10-minute walk. Want better sleep? Move your bedtime up by 15 minutes.

Why? Because small wins build momentum, and momentum builds confidence. And confidence? That's what actually creates lasting change.

2. Focus on Addition, Not Subtraction

Instead of taking things away (which your brain interprets as deprivation), add good things to your life. Add protein to your breakfast instead of grabbing just cereal or toast. Add vegetables to two meals per day for fiber (healthy gut = happy gut). Add a 10-minute walk during the day instead of sitting at your desk for 6 hours straight. Add 10 minutes of reading before bed instead of scrolling socials.

When you focus on adding, you crowd out the less helpful habits naturally, without the willpower battle.

3. Plan for Real Life

Your reset has to work on Tuesday at 5:30 PM when one kid has soccer practice two towns away, another has dance nearby, and the third needs to be at hoops by 7:00. This is not the time for an elaborate home-cooked meal.

This is when you need your "hands-off" dinner plan: meatball sandwich (precooked meatballs in a roll), pre-cut veggies and hummus, string cheese, and cut up fruit. Everyone (you included) either eats early or in the car between drop-offs, and you know what? That counts as dinner. You fed your kids real food during the chaos AND you fueled your body too (instead of inhaling the contents of your fridge and pantry late night)! That's a win.

Ask yourself: "Will this work on my worst day?" If the answer is no, make it smaller or simpler.

4. Progress Over Perfection (Always)

Some days you'll nail it. Some days you'll completely forget. Some days you'll remember but be too tired to care. All of these days count as part of your journey.

The goal isn't perfection. The goal is showing up more often than you don't.

Your Simple January Reset Plan

Here's what I want you to try this month:

1. Pick one or two habits to focus on (seriously, just one or two)

2. Make them easy (we're talking so easy you could do it even when you're exhausted)

3. Attach it to something you already do (before I brew my coffee…, during my lunch break…, after I brush my teeth…)

4. Track it simply (a checkmark on your calendar works great)

5. Celebrate small wins (did it twice this week? That's worth celebrating!)

Some ideas to get you started:

• Drink a glass of water before coffee

• Eat Greek yogurt with my morning toast (instead of toast alone)

• Do 20 squats before and after brushing your teeth

• Write down one thing you're grateful for every day

• Put your phone in another room 30 minutes before bed

The Reset That Sticks

Here's what I know after years of helping busy moms (and myself!) create sustainable change: the habits that stick aren't the dramatic ones that look good on Instagram. They're the boring, small, consistent ones that fit seamlessly into your real life and compound over time.

This January, instead of asking "How can I completely overhaul my life?" ask "What's one or two small things I can do consistently that will make me feel a little bit better?"

That's your reset and the start of real, lasting change. Unsexy, boring actions for the WIN!

Want to set yourself up for success this year? Grab my free “Ultimate Guide to Crush Your New Year's Resolutions”! Inside, you'll discover how to focus on one goal at a time, start small to build momentum, and ditch the "all-or-nothing" mindset for good. This guide will help you create resolutions that actually stick so you can feel your BEST.

Download your free guide here [https://page.traceysmithlifecoach.com/newyear] and let's make this the year your goals become your reality!