So many of us make New Year’s resolutions to swap out unhealthy habits for meaningful lifestyle changes. But the research shows only a small percentage of us keep those resolutions. Why? It might be because we’re not taking advantage of some proven tools to set ourselves up for success. Here are three tips and tools from Withings to help get you where you want to be this year. 

• Find a buddy. Don’t go at it alone. Find someone who can be your resolution buddy. This person doesn’t have to have the same goal. They just need to be open to checking in on a regular basis. Researchers from Stanford University¹ showed that simply texting your buddy when you make progress, or even when you find yourself slacking off, can triple your chances of resolution success. This might be especially helpful for health and wellness-based resolutions, which require conscious and consistent effort.  
• Explore smart tech. Activity tracking has come a long way.² Watches count your steps and so much more. Smart scales can help you see your weight and body composition trends over time, so you don’t get discouraged by a few less-than-perfect days. And smart blood pressure monitors can help you monitor progress from healthy lifestyle changes and share your data with your doctor in a few taps. Depending on your resolution, you can find all sorts of devices and apps that can track your data and help you make sense of it. Many people find that understanding more about their body is empowering.³ The right technology can make that happen. 
• Don’t forget to sleep. If you want to lose weight, getting enough sleep is key. A Withings study⁴ found that BMI influences sleep duration. Among study participants who slept fewer than seven hours a night, more than 66.5% were overweight. Why is this? Perhaps the answer is hormonal. Lack of sleep can impair your body’s ability to produce the hormone leptin, which makes you feel full after a meal. Sleep deprivation can also increase the production of the hunger-inducing hormone, ghrelin. Seven to eight hours of sleep a night turns out to be ideal for many. And there’s smart tech to help you track that, too.

So, if you’ve resolved to make some healthy lifestyle changes, that’s great! Now give yourself the best chances for success. 

<sup>1. Stanford University. New Year's Resolutions That Connect With the 'Ideal Self' Are Most Effective . 2015
2. Withings. Infographic: The History of Activity Tracking. 2022
3. Withings. Understanding Body Composition Helps Katie Power Through a Plateau. 2022
4. Withings. Better Sleep Linked to Healthier Weight, Increased Activity, and Lower Blood Pressure. 2018</sup>