Christmas done and dusted and tinsel safely stowed for another year? It’s time to make good on those New Year’s resolutions. Whether you’ve decided to stop smoking, lose a few pounds and hit the gym, or cut down on your favourite tipple, studies show that willpower is all about the brain.

If you’ve always thought you were weak-willed while those around you were made of stronger stuff, think again. Willpower, it seems, is a somewhat limited resource and many experts believe that trying to give up too many things at once or when under stress, is more or less impossible.

You have to be in the right frame of mind, and where willpower is concerned, that would be the prefrontal cortex just behind your forehead. This is the area of the brain responsible for keeping us focused, handling short-term memory and solving abstract problems. And if it’s busy doing all of these things at once, showing restraint can sometimes prove difficult.

Make 2025 your healthiest and happiest year yet with these five easy, and more importantly, sustainable switches:

One thing at a time

You are much more likely to succeed in your goals if you allow your brain to concentrate on one change at a time; embarking upon a new diet, coupled with daily sessions down the gym (having previously never set foot in one) is unrealistic.

Certain nutrients can also help to boost concentration and support brain health. Boost your B vitamins – they’re important for managing stress, yes, but they’re also important for healthy brain function. Of all the B vitamins, B12 is especially important for red blood cell formation and energy release. Having low levels of vitamin B12 will zap your mental energy, your attention span and your cognitive function.

We only need a small amount of vitamin B12, circa 1.5 mcg per day, but because it is mainly found in animal products, vitamin B12 deficiency is one of the most common vegetarian and vegan diet deficiencies. Foods rich in B12 include mussels, mackerel, soya milk and yoghurt, alternatively a supplement can help.

Everything in moderation

If you want to lose a few pounds, do so sensibly. There is no magic weight loss pill. Eat healthily and eat regularly. Your brain uses more energy when it’s being asked to exert willpower, and the hungrier you are the harder it is to resist cravings.

To combat sugary cravings top up on chromium-rich foods, which can include wholegrains, brown rice and green beans.

Stay on top of stress

 You’ve probably heard of your ‘fight or flight’ reflexes, but what you might not realise, is that every time you experience stress, these reflexes are triggered. ‘Fight or flight’ is great for fleeing actual danger but a little excessive when pulled into a meeting with your boss. When stressed your body prioritises where it spends its energies, and nutrients are leached away from less vital areas of the body, such as your skin and hair, and redirected towards key survival organs. 

Nutrients that are used up more quickly in times of stress include magnesium, the B vitamins and vitamin C, so look to keep these topped up through diet and if necessary, supplements.

Just staying on top

If you are feeling a little low, St. John’s Wort or Hypericum can help with feelings of sluggishness, low mood and mild anxiety. Scientists believe it works by prolonging the action of serotonin and by increasing levels of melatonin. Hyperiforce St John’s Wort tablets are registered for addressing low mood and mild anxiety, but Hypericum can take up to six weeks for best results, and it can interact with other medications and affect the way they work, so isn’t suitable for everyone. Check with your GP first if on prescribed medicines.

If Hypericum is not for you, you could try A.Vogel’s Passiflora Complex Spray. A gentle, non-addictive relaxing blend of herbs for those needing to relax, it combines Passiflora (passionflower) and Lemon Balm. The handy spray makes it ideal for using on-the-go.

Commit to an exercise regime, but keep it real.

Finally, moderate, regular exercise is key to a healthy lifestyle; it speeds up the rate at which your body breaks down fat and it’s great for your mental health, better still if you can get outdoors as green space exposure is believed to activate a primitive part of the brain involved with stress regulatory responses. Just 10 minutes a day will help you to feel better and more in control.

Final take-home? Don’t be too hard on yourself. Every journey begins with a first step - well done for wanting to make a positive change in the first place.

For further information on keeping your cool all year round, visit Shamini and her team at Naturaal Health, 128 Field End Road, Eastcote, HA5 1RJ, or call 020 8 429 1700/ 07933809833.