How to Stick to Your New Year’s Resolutions with the Help of Saints

New Year’s resolutions are like hot air balloons—easy to inflate but tough to keep afloat. We all start the year with big plans and grand aspirations, only to find ourselves back at square one before long. But what if I told you that sticking to your New Year’s resolutions is simpler than you think? Why not seek the aid of the Saints to achieve this?

The Example of the Saints

Many books on the lives of the Saints contain the key to changing something in our lives. Most people view the Saints as perfect individuals whose lives were marked by heroic deeds larger than life itself. In reality, the Saints were ordinary people who faced challenges similar to ours, such as laziness, impatience, and fiery tempers. Yet, they were witnesses to exemplary lives because they battled their own flaws. The Saints had a greater good to achieve—love for God and service to mankind—and each day they bravely fought against their weaknesses, each struggle akin to a heroic act.

Saint Josemaria Escrivá Patron of The Ordinary

Saint Josemaria speaks about the path to holiness: “Do you really want to be holy? – Fulfill the small duty of each moment; do what you must and be present in what you do.” This path proposed by the Spanish Saint reveals two aspects; one material—fulfilling the small duty, and the other formal—with perfection and commitment, for the love of God.
Thus, we can approach our New Year’s Resolutions with the help of the Saints. We will do our duties for the love of God and we will do them perfectly. But what if you fail? Like the Saints, start again, do not let yourself be caught by temptations such as depression and lack of spirit. Onward, 2025 is your year!

Is Starting at the Gym Part of Your New Year’s Resolutions?

Saint Sebastian Patron of Athletes

Making more exercise, eating better, or drinking less are important New Year’s resolutions. Yes, you should take care of your body. We are body and spirit; hence the body is an important part of the equation. Those who exercise and eat better increase their cognitive abilities and can work and relate more satisfactorily. Just be careful not to let the gym become a temple and your body a religion. Moderation is the holy grail.

Practical Tips – Take baby steps and hit the gym once or twice a week to build momentum. Your body will thank you for it. Generally, lead a more active life. Health experts are full of ideas on incorporating new habits into your daily life. For instance, take the stairs instead of the lift or park your car and walk.

Eating Better is a Big Step, How to Handle It?

Here you can also learn from the Saints. Food and gluttony go hand in hand. And many Saints performed acts of penance to strengthen the spirit and will. Why not imitate them? One day skip that delicious dessert in penance for world peace or any other personal intention. Eat half the amount of chocolate you usually do in penance for a relative’s health, for example. You’ll find that over time, you develop superhero-like resistance and can completely change your relationship with food.

Saint Charles Borromeo Patron of Stomach Ailments Which Include Dieting and Obesity

Practical Tips – One little bite at a time. Going from junk food to a kale-only diet is a recipe for failure. Instead, learn to love wholesome food and allow yourself a few cheat days to keep the balance. I love saving healthy recipes from TikTok and trying to make them at home. It introduces a fun component to eating more vegetables. Furthermore, cultivate the habit of ‘listening’ to your body and remove foods that aren’t serving your well-being. Begin by eliminating sugar; you might find that tea or coffee without sugar is surprisingly delightful. Plus, chocolate with 70% cocoa content is not only healthy but also an excellent choice for satisfying sweet cravings.

Read: The Birth and Death of a Diet, A Story of Hunger and Madness.

Less Alcohol in 2025?

Remember that Jesus performed his first public miracle at a wedding in Cana, where he turned water into wine. The wine was running out and Jesus, at the request of Our Lady, hurried to ensure the hosts and guests had enough wine until the end of the party. Cheers, Jesus! Therefore, drinking to socialize and celebrate is a good thing. However, moderation is key. Getting drunk is wrong, and drinking every day is also not advisable. If you suffer from any type of addiction, whether it be alcohol, drugs, sex, compulsive buying of goods, or excessive internet use, you must strive for moderation. It’s a battle that involves both the physical and the spiritual. Do penance by going long periods without consuming what you’re addicted to, in the name of something greater. Think of it as a dry January of the Saints. And pray a lot.

To inspire you in your struggle, here are four saints who overcame their addictions:

Saint Monica and Saint Vladimir

• Saint Monica – In his Confessions, Saint Augustine recounts that his mother Monica, at the age of 15, had developed a habit of drinking wine. As she was always drunk, one day her servant called her “a dirty bottle of pure wine.” Humiliated, Saint Monica became aware of her shameful behaviour. Praying to the Lord and strengthening her will, she found the strength to once and for all correct her alcohol addiction.
• Saint Vladimir – The life of Saint Vladimir before his conversion is one of the most astonishing saint stories. He ascended to the throne, becoming prince of Kyiv, after murdering his brother. He experienced moral depravity, lust, and many other vices. However, after his conversion to the Christian faith, he renounced his 800 concubines and completely changed his life. He remained faithfully married to just one woman and replaced the pagan temples of his kingdom with churches.

Saint Bruno Seronuma and Blessed Bartolo Longo

• Saint Bruno Seronuma – Born in Uganda, Bruno Seronuma was the son of the ruler of the Buganda kingdom. Before becoming a Catholic, Seronuma was violent and addicted to alcohol. With his conversion, he sought to control his explosive temper and passions. He sought to renounce his addiction, spending much time in prayer and penance. At the end of his life, he died as a martyr of his faith.
• Blessed Bartolo Longo – Although he grew up in a Catholic family, the Italian Bartolo Longo rejected religion at the age of 10 when his mother died. Throughout his life, he became interested in the occult sciences and eventually became a Satanist priest at the age of 20. He experimented with drugs and became addicted. The fervent prayers of his family finally provoked his radical conversion, and since then, he dedicated his life to helping the poor and teaching the power of prayer and the Rosary.

I hope this article helps you stay committed to your New Year’s resolutions with an eye on something greater than just a bikini body. Being the best version of yourself is a wonderful project that should be worked on every day for the rest of your life. Courage!

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