New Year, New You?

Happy New Year ✨

With the new year being so very present, I decided to dive back into share some tidbits of knowledge!

Although we are only 1 week into the new year, I have heard from countless individuals about setting “New Year’s Resolutions” and finding ways to meet that resolution before the year is up. It got me thinking, why do we feel the need to put so much pressure on ourselves to meet (possibly) and unrealistic expectation? And why does it HAVE TO be within the present year?

I strongly believe New Year’s Resolutions create:

🔺 Unrealistic Expectations: These are frequently rooted in perfectionism. While they may sound great on Paper, when we inevitably stumble, it’s easy to feel like we’ve failed, trigger self-doubt and/or inadequacy.

🔺All or Nothing Thinking: This rigid mindset leaves no space for flexibility, making it more likely to abandon the resolution entirely if we slip up.

🔺pressure to conform: Society’s emphasis on self-improvement at the beginning of the year makes us feel like WE ALL have to set resolutions. Be kind to yourself, if you’re not ready to begin on the first of the year, start when you feel ready. This pressure can lead us to choose goals that don’t align with our own belief systems.

🔺Neglect Your Mental Health Needs: Traditional resolutions often focus on external achievements rather than internal growth. By doing so, we risk neglecting the aspects of ourselves that truly need care and attention.

A healthier approach to setting realistic goals looks like:

🔹Start small and specific: breaking down those really big goals into smaller ones.

🔹Focus on the journey, not the outcome: shift your mindset from achieving a specific result to engaging in meaningful habits.

🔹Set Goals Year-Round: You do not need January 1st (or a start of the week) to start “fresh”. Life ebbs and flows and your goals should, too.

🔹Be Kind To Yourself: Acknowledge that progress isn’t linear, and setbacks are part of growth. Also, missteps happen! Try to reflect on what you can learn from the misstep, instead of criticizing yourself.

🔹Prioritize Mental Health Goals: consider setting goals that support your mental well-being. Whether that practicing mindfulness or getting into therapy. Make the time to invest in you!