The Challenges with Setting New Years’ Resolutions: Do We All Need to Set a Resolution of Eating Healthy?!

Every year, millions of people across the world make new year resolutions; with the main resolution made being to keep fit and healthy with exercise. We rarely discuss how setting resolutions may affect us negatively, despite their positive intention. Even though setting resolutions work for many people, the idea of setting and sticking to these resolutions can be overwhelming for some; myself included.  

Although I set resolutions, ironically, I hate the idea of setting resolutions. Why? Winter can be a bad time to start creating change. The weather is dull, there is a high chance that you will be unwell at some point, you may experience general winter blues; the list is endless. It seems so contradictory that we put our bodies and minds through change (or at least try to implement change…), at arguably the toughest point in the year for a lot of people. Not only are setting and implementing these changes tough, but reflecting on your resolutions at the end of the year is just as bad. More often than not, when the end of the year arrived and I was ready to set new resolutions, I soon realised that I was not even close to fulfilling the resolutions I had even set for that year! I ended up setting the same resolutions year-on-year, feeling guilty and deflated that I had never got close to reaching those goals. Do our resolutions always have to be such big changes?

For years, I followed the resolutions of others – go to the gym three times a week, lose weight, learn a new language, and so on. I only figured this year, that those resolutions are extremely unrealistic; at least, they are for me. My resolutions now are much more personal. Anyone that knows me will know that I show minimal physical affection to my nearest and dearest – through conversations in person, hugging etc. A huge part of this is because on the phone, it is so much easier to show your gratitude to someone. But in person? Far too awkward for me! So, this year, I am going to get better at that. Maybe not entirely, but slightly (I hope). And if that means one conversation showing gratitude to someone, then I have fulfilled my goal. That means more to me than going to the gym three times a week or eating healthy, because no one will be around forever, and I know the importance of treasuring that time now. That resolution works for me.    

What I am trying to say is…

·       Find yourself. Finding out what works for you is great, don’t be influenced by what resolutions others are setting and feeling like you need to follow suit - because you don’t.

·       Please yourself. If you want to set a resolution to go to the gym three times a week, then that is great! But, set that resolution because you want to.

·       There are more months than January. In addition, self-expansion and reflection can happen throughout the year at any point, not just ready for the new year.

·       Not just a year! Resolutions do not have to be fulfilled within a year; Rome was not built in a day.

Collectively, we need to stop putting pressure on ourselves to do everything at once. Take time for yourself. Reflect on how far you have come, rather than consistently thinking about what you can do to improve yourself.