The best New Year's resolutions to set this year, according to an expert

Setting New Year's resolutions on January 1 has become a common pledge based on an ancient tradition which started 4000 years ago.

From losing weight to looking for a new job, ending a relationship or saving money, using the turnover of the calendar is a popular way to promise a change.

However, around 80 per cent of people fail by February, research says.

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"They absolutely can be helpful for achieving goals but I think the thing people need to be mindful of is they have to be ready to achieve a goal, regardless of when that is," Neurophysiologist Dr Ashleigh Moreland, director of the Re-MIND Institute in Melbourne tells 9honey.

"Readiness means we have to be emotionally ready, mentally ready, socially ready, behaviourally ready."

Whatever goals you set, they need to be achievable, she says.

Saying you want to do something like "get fitter" won't work.

"That's really vague. So our goal would be I'm going to exercise 30 minutes three times a week," Moreland said.

Moreland, who works with clients in Australia and around the world, has come up with what she reckons are top resolutions any Aussies can set this year – and successfully follow.

She said it's the small changes which can have a big impact.

"I'm looking at it from the perspective of what little changes can people make that would drastically impact their quality of life," she said.

Here's what she recommends.

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1. Social media revamp

"Do an audit on your social media," Moreland says.

"So for the entire month of January, anytime you see something on your social media that makes you feel a negative emotion or triggers you, if you find yourself feeling judgmental, or anything like that, hide it or unfollow.

"The clean-up will set you up for what you're exposed to for the rest of the year."

2. Cut down phone time

"I find that a big barrier for people is really unhealthy relationships with their mobile phone," Moreland adds.

"It impacts their presence, impacts their capacity to be in the moment, to truly connect with people."

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She says getting off the phone can have an effect on relationships and increase a sense of wellbeing.

"There's so many apps that you can use now and parental controls and limitations around – or even just committing to charging your phone out of the bedroom," she said.

3. Sort out your sleep

It's all too easy to just watch another episode of that TV show, but pledging to improve your sleep patterns in 2024 can be powerful.

"Setting a regular bedtime would be really beneficial because we know that sleep deprivation goes a really long way in supporting our nervous system," Moreland reveals.

"We can't function if we're sleep deprived, our mood is affected, our executive functions."