As anyone who has ever tried to stay on a liquid cleanse can attest, switching from excessive habits to extreme restraint overnight can be a recipe for disaster.
"The quickest way to lose steam when working on a budget or trying a diet is to try extreme forms of behavioral change," Wallaert says. "While it occasionally works for highly motivated people, the vast majority of people simply return to their old ways because they set themselves on a program of behaviors that they can't possibly keep up."
Take action: Accept that permanent change doesn't happen overnight. Start with small, simple steps (swap your afternoon vanilla latte for home brewed coffee) that gradually move you closer towards your goals.
