Why Willpower Won’t Get You to Your 2026 Health Goals...and What Actually Will

Amanda Zeamer
Jan 2
2 min read

As we approach a new year, many women are quietly thinking about what they want 2026 to feel like.

More energy. More consistency. Less starting over.

And yet, if you’re honest, you may also be thinking:

I’ve had good intentions before… why does it never stick?

As a nurse and board-certified nurse coach, I want to tell you something important:

Most women don’t struggle with motivation. They struggle with support.

The myth we’ve been taught about change

We’re taught that if we just:

Want it badly enough
Try harder
Become more disciplined

…we’ll finally follow through. (Discipline is a piece of it but not everything)

But real life doesn’t work that way.

Life includes:

Stress
Caregiving
Work demands
Hormonal changes
Mental load
Exhaustion

So when change doesn’t stick, women blame themselves.

They assume they’re the problem.

They’re not.

Why most goals quietly fade by March

Most health goals fail not because they were unrealistic, but because they were unsupported.

Think about it:

No space to talk through what’s getting in the way
No one helping you adjust when life changes
No accountability that feels compassionate instead of shaming

Without support, even the right goals become heavy.

And eventually… abandoned.

What actually helps change last

Sustainable change doesn’t come from willpower.

It comes from:

Clarity— knowing what actually matters for you
Structure— not rigid rules, but a realistic plan
Support— someone walking alongside you
Adaptability— adjusting without quitting
Accountability— without judgment

This is where coaching becomes essential. not as a “nice-to-have,” but as a foundation.

What nurse-informed coaching looks like (in real life)

This isn’t about extreme plans or perfect habits.

In coaching, we focus on:

Understanding why change feels hard
Identifying patterns that keep you stuck
Building habits that fit your real life
Supporting you through setbacks instead of starting over
Helping you trust yourself again

As a nurse, I also bring a deep understanding of the body, stress, and behavior change so we work with your nervous system, not against it.

Imagine this version of 2026

Imagine entering 2026 feeling:

More confident in your daily health decisions
Less reactive and more intentional
Consistent...not perfect
Supported instead of alone
Calm instead of constantly “behind”
.

If you’re wondering if coaching could help

You don’t have to be sure. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t even have to commit yet.

You just have to be curious.

If you’ve been quietly thinking,

“I don’t want another year of starting over”

I’d love to have a conversation with you.

Coaching doesn’t change your goals. It changes how supported you are while reaching them.

You can reach out through my contact page or send me a message, we’ll simply talk and see what feels right