Happy new year, PPN Families and welcome to 2025!

I hope you all had a wonderful break visiting families, going on vacation or even a staycation.

Something you usually hear around this time is “new year, new me”. But what does that look like? Is it finally sticking to those new year resolutions you set years before? I’ve made my fair share of new resolutions; I would like to say that some have stuck around but for the most part they end up on the chopping block by the time February comes along. I think we can all agree that creating a new habit can be difficult.

In a recent study done at the University of South Australia, researchers looked at how forming a healthy habit can take much longer than what was first thought. Instead of thinking that 3 weeks is surly enough time for a resolution to make it to that habit stage, its more like 2 months to sometimes a year.

So what healthy habits are you looking to bring into 2025? Increasing your exercise, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, eating healthy, reading your bible and spending more time in prayer? Whatever you want to start or improve on look at some ways or strategies to be consistent and turn those resolutions into habits.

“When trying to establish a new healthy habit, success can be influenced by a range of things including how frequently we undertake the new activity, the timing of the practice, and whether we enjoy it or not,” Dr Singh says (researcher at Uni SA).

Don’t overwhelm yourself, just do one or two new things. The more you have on your plate the less likely you are to stick with it and be consistent. Also make it fun, link it with something you enjoy.

One of my struggles is being consistent with my personal time with God. It’s that same ol’ story of I’m doing really well and I’m in the Word, then a fall into a season of busy and my time with Him get shorter and shorter. So, this year I’ve given myself only 2 goals I want to make into a habit. First is to make my bed every day and second is to end my nights in time with God. I love being creative, so I’ve purchased a bible colouring book with devotions to help me stick with it.

I hope that the resolutions you choose this year, will challenge you and remind you that God is with you every step of the way.

I leave you with this promise found in Isaiah 40:31 “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

Blessings for the new year ahead,

Pr Andy.