I have a bit of a love hate relationship with new year resolutions. I’ve had my share of resolutions when I was younger, like go to the gym more or eat better but always forgot about them by the end of January. More recently I haven’t bothered with new years resolutions at all. Lately I prefer to just start my goals when I think of them throughout the year rather than waiting for the new year. Having said that there is something nice about having a fresh start on the 1st of January. So this year I’ve decided to set a few health new years resolutions. Some are more specific, others are a bit more general.
Practice self-compassion
This is a big one for me. I’m constantly encouraging this for my clients and need to learn to do this better myself. It’s important to be understanding for yourself and give yourself a break. This should slowly result in more kindness toward yourself as well which we know is when we take better care of ourselves.
Handwrite in a journal
Writing things down has been on my to-do list for a while and for a few reasons. I’d like to write in a journal to remember events and memories throughout the year and I want to start writing things down that I’m grateful for to acknowledge them more. I’ve also been told that even just the process of handwriting is beneficial for relaxation and cognition so may as well give it a go.
Book in time for yoga at least once per week
I started doing yoga for the first time this year and I absolutely love it. I feel incredibly calm and relaxed after every class. It’s the perfect form of self-care for me, however I haven’t been prioritising it. As soon as something else comes up, I’ll skip the class and might go a few weeks without doing it. Next year I want to make it an appointment in my week to make it harder to pass on.
Stop comparing myself to others
This is another biggie. I learnt a while ago through my body image work to stop comparing myself to others in terms of appearance, however I continue to compare myself in regards to my career or where I’m up to in life. I know this is unhelpful so I’m going to make a conscious effort to stop this.
If you’re thinking of doing your own resolutions this year, have a think about what resolutions you’ve made in the past. Did they work for you? Did they end up making you feel better or worse about yourself? Then use these reflections to help guide the resolutions you make this year. And above all, make sure you’re kind to yourself. I hope you all have a very happy new year.