Navigating Resolutions in the New Year
Written By: Natalie Powell, KADDI Intern
Every January, we’re inundated with messages of change, discipline, and “starting fresh”. These messages are largely focused on food and movement, suggesting that we haven’t been doing enough in these categories throughout the year and must “make up for it”. For many people, these can feel especially loud after the holidays.
Unfortunately, this can feed the vicious cycle that so many find themselves in with resolutions: overcommitting, then feeling like we’ve “fallen off the wagon” when we can’t maintain the ambitious, if not unrealistic, goals we set for ourselves. This can lead to feelings of shame, guilt, and self-criticism.
People seem to think that this is a necessary step, a rite of passage for the new year. However, we can interrupt this diet culture-driven cycle.
Rather than jumping straight into making change, pause and get curious. Questions you can ask yourself are:
- Where is this desire to change coming from?
- Will this change support my well-being?
- Is this change sustainable for me?
If you have made a resolution and not “stuck to it” this January, that is okay. Take a breath and walk yourself through the questions above. Maybe you overestimated your time and energy, or committed to something just for the sake of it. If it is something you want to continue, reevaluate how you can integrate this goal into your life more sustainably so that you don’t burn out. If you find that you don’t think this goal will actually serve you, throw it out!
For some people, the challenge is not just in the resolutions, but in navigating comments from others. If you think you may find yourself in uncomfortable situations, practice how you are going to address any comments ahead of time. For example:
- You committed to working out 5 days a week with a buddy. They say that you’re “giving up” when you tell them you are going to scale back. You can respond with:
- “I’m adjusting to a schedule that works better for me. That feels like care, not giving up.”
- A coworker asks you about how your New Year’s resolutions are going. You can say:
- “Actually, I’ve decided to prioritize flexibility instead of rigid goals.”
Also remember that you don’t owe anyone an explanation if you don’t want to give one. The New Year doesn’t have to be a time of punishment and reinvention. Instead, it can be a time to practice self-compassion and balance.