Self-hypnosis tricks to stick to healthy New Year’s resolutions

You’re too sleepy… thinking about how much effort it will take to stick to your healthy New Year’s resolutions.

But Hollywood hypnotherapist and holistic coach Maria Freeman has shared some tips that will make it easier to eat healthy, move more, lose weight, or whatever else you’ve committed to in 2025.

Freeman detailed the “hidden beliefs and thought patterns” that “set you up for failure” and broke down two self-hypnosis techniques that can help you retrain your brain.

“When it comes to losing weight, eating better, or sticking to an exercise routine, there is often a
the hidden other side that sabotages us,” Freeman told The Post.

“We make promises to ourselves, like, ‘I’ll eat better, I’ll exercise more, I’ll stick to my goals this time,’ but we end up overeating, avoiding exercise, or feeling stuck in a cycle of guilt and frustration.

“The main problem is often a subconscious program – something deep inside that keeps us repeating the same unhealthy patterns.”

For example, you may have decided that starting this year, you will only eat healthy food. Freeman says this is great in theory, but in reality, “you’ve set yourself up for failure” with three “hidden beliefs and thought patterns.”

• All or nothing thinking: “I’m either eating junk food and being unhealthy, or I’m just eating bland, tasteless vegetables.”
• Limiting Trust: “Healthy food is boring and unappealing.”
• Harsh inner voice: That inner “parent” that tells you to follow strict rules. But harsh restrictions rarely work; they often lead to rebellion or burnout. The more you force yourself, the more likely you are to fall back into old habits.

“If you believe that eating healthy or exercising is hard, you’re likely to unconsciously resist it,” Freeman explained. “This resistance keeps you stuck in a toxic cycle of shame and self-sabotage. But when you reprogram your subconscious mind, you can break free.”

Fortunately, there are two techniques you can use at home to fix this.

“With self-hypnosis, you can change your mindset and rearrange the thoughts that keep you stuck,” she said.

Positive programming with visualization

“This technique works by imagining yourself as someone who likes to take care of their body,” Freeman explained. “You’re not forcing yourself to do something you hate—you’re visualizing the person you want to be.”

1. Find a quiet place, sit down and close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths to relax.
2. Roll your eyes up and hold them up as you slowly count from 50 to 0. As you breathe more slowly, feel yourself drifting into relaxation.
3. As you look up, imagine yourself feeling a deep love and appreciation or your body. See yourself enjoying healthy meals, feeling energized from exercise, and thriving in your healthy lifestyle.
4. Imagine yourself as someone who wakes up energized, excited to make healthy choices. Imagine feeling confident, strong and happy in your own skin.
5. Open your eyes slowly. Repeat this exercise in the morning and before going to bed for better results.

Create your own self-hypnosis recording

Freeman recommends ordering a custom self-hypnosis recording from her or another hypnotherapist, but it’s possible to make your own in a quiet space at home.

Start by counting from 0-10, taking a deep breath with each number. You can play relaxing music in the background.

Then make positive statements that are not just about the goals you want to achieve, but how you can change your thinking to get there. Some suggestions:

• “Every day I love and appreciate my body more and more.”
• “I am consistent, loving and disciplined with my goals.”
• “I choose healthy, energetic food that nourishes my body.”
• “My body is a temple and I take care of it with love and respect.”

“Play your recording before bed, when your mind is most suggestible, to help reprogram your subconscious mind,” Freeman said. “Remember to do it daily for best results.”

Other solutions

Diving “deeper into your subconscious mind” to identify the trauma, beliefs, or memories that are holding you back—and replacing them with healthier, more empowering thinking—can also help, but it takes a little more work.

Freeman says it’s usually done with more guidance from a therapist, though she offers a free master class on the topic.