"NEW YEAR, NEW ME" BS
I am sure you have already been hearing about everyone's New Year's resolutions since Thanksgiving. A co-worker says “I'm going to cut out sugar January 1st”... after they say they are being “bad” while eating treats at the holiday party.
Your uncle says “I am going to start going to the gym every single day”...even though he doesn't go at all now. It’s always, “New Year, New Me!”, until February comes around and all of a sudden no one can stick to the plans they made. Now why does that seem to happen?
Not only are these goals usually incredibly unrealistic and restrictive, but New Years serves as a fun and trendy way to half ass goal-setting. It can be hard not to buy into it when everyone around you seems to not shut up about it either. When you start planning to make changes ONLY when a certain date comes along, you are allowing yourself to put off whatever beneficial lifestyle changes you wish to make for another few weeks or even months. Most likely this leaves you feeling worse than before because that “diet starts tomorrow” mentality kicks in.
"NEW YEARS SERVES AS A FUN AND TRENDY WAY TO HALF ASS GOAL SETTING".
So, ask yourself:
Why not start this resolution NOW?
Why do you need a set date to get started?
Are you willing to waste weeks or months to change your behaviors?
There is never going to be the right time to get started, life will continually throw challenges your way, the New Year will not change that.
Just like everything else in this word, these resolutions are an easy way to market to you as a consumer too. Curated ads lure you into buying that new, shiny, and improved product they have, preying on your short-lived motivation, and then since you were most likely not able to keep up this goal, lure you back in next year.
All of this does not mean you shouldn't make goals and want to better yourself or improve your health. It means that you should reassess how realistic these goals are and remember that pursuing good habits is rooted in discipline, not a start date.
TIPS TO AVOID THE "NEW YEAR, NEW ME" MINDSET
Create a gratitude list or journal. Instead of listing things you’d like to change about yourself, take a moment to reflect on your accomplishments and growth within 2023. It’s okay to want change, but always remind yourself of the little and big wins as well.
Be selective of your media consumption. The New Year’s is the perfect time for companies to market towards a “new and improved” version of you - whether its through an affordable gym membership, fat diet, or weight loss supplement. Choose what type of content you engage with and notice how it affects the way your feel about yourself.
If you’d like to do some goal setting, create a game plan instead of relying on arbitrary date to start. Follow the steps of creating a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely) goal or reach out to one of our Registered Dietitians to help you with this step!
Although it’s always a good time to do some self-reflection and planning ahead, remember that your individual journey to health and wellness is unique to you. You do not need to set unrealistic expectations or do a complete life reset to embody the person you wish to be in 2024! Meaningful, long-term change does not come from the turn of the calendar. It comes from consistently completing small, mundane and basic tasks and continuing to improve as you learn. Cheers to some extra self-love today and a happy, nourished New Year!
