While motivation can be high in January, lasting wellbeing is rarely built through short-term resolutions. Instead, it’s about creating habits and support systems that can be maintained throughout the year.
What makes Resolutions sustainable?
Resolutions are sustainable when they’re realistic, specific, flexible, and built into daily routines, with clear motivation and small, trackable progress.
Make your resolutions sustainable by setting clear, realistic goals, breaking them into small steps, and building them into your routine. Stay flexible, track progress, focus on why it matters to you, and adjust rather than quit when setbacks happen.
How to really keep a sustainable Resoultion?
So to summarise:
- Set clear, realistic goals
- Break them into small, manageable steps
- Build them into your daily routine
- Focus on your personal motivation
- Track progress regularly
- Be flexible and adapt when setbacks happen
- Celebrate small wins
What makes wellbeing sustainable?
Sustainable wellbeing isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about recognising what affects your physical and mental health day to day, including: work demands, recovery time, and how supported you feel when challenges arise.
Many health concerns develop gradually. Fatigue, reduced concentration, low mood, or physical discomfort often appear long before someone feels unwell enough to stop working or seek help. Noticing these early changes is key to preventing longer-term issues.
What action can I take to protect my long-term wellbeing?
Wellbeing improvements don’t have to be dramatic to be effective. Small, practical changes often have the greatest impact, such as:
- Adjusting routines to allow for proper rest and recovery
- Addressing minor aches, pains, or discomfort early
- Being clearer about boundaries between work and personal time
- Seeking support before stress or health concerns escalate
Over time, these small steps help build resilience and maintain health more consistently.
How can my workplace support my overall wellbeing?
For many of us, a large part of the week is spent at work, so how we feel there has a significant impact on our overall wellbeing. Having access to the right support in the workplace is essential to ensure work isn’t negatively affecting our health.
Occupational health professionals play a critical role in supporting long-term wellbeing. They can:
- Assess functional impact of health concerns
- Recommend reasonable adjustments
- Provide guidance on preventative measures
- Support managers in creating psychologically safe environments
By embedding OH services into organisational wellbeing strategies, companies can proactively manage health risks instead of reacting to crises.
Occupational health focuses on practical, preventative support, whether that’s managing workload-related stress, addressing musculoskeletal issues, or supporting mental wellbeing. Early guidance can often prevent issues from becoming more complex or long-term, especially when organisations use new starter questionnaires as part of a proactive onboarding and wellbeing approach.
So…
Making 2026 a year of sustainable wellbeing isn’t about major lifestyle shifts. It’s about recognising the small signals, making manageable changes, and using the right support to stay well over the long term. Checking in with yourself regularly, addressing concerns early, and knowing where to access professional advice can make a meaningful difference over the year ahead.
