Is It Time To Say NO To New Year's Resolutions?

I have just learned that January 17 is ‘Ditch Your New Year’s Resolutions’ day, or some bullshit.  I suppose it makes sense, being a couple of weeks into the month. Anyone who knows me, knows that I don’t do resolutions-never have. It always seemed counter-intuitive. We come up with these big plans, get really excited to make changes, and then go balls out for it. And then it hits…

Too much, too fast. 

Never going to stick. 

If you have ever tried a diet, you will know this game.  You start with good intentions, but it is NEVER sustainable in the long run.  You begin to waver, and in no time, you’re back to your old ways, left feeling shitty and worse about yourself. (For that reason, I am also NOT a dieter)

If you made any resolutions, and you’re starting to feel worn out and overwhelmed by it all, I want you to consider a few things. Firstly, pat yourself on the back for what you have accomplished so far.  If you’ve been going to the gym, changed something in your diet, quit smoking, whatever your thing, you should feel proud of your accomplishment.  

Secondly, take a look at the big picture.  Just as you don’t become an athlete from a single workout, you don’t gain 10 pounds from missing a workout.  Take it in stride, relax, and just keep going.  Shake it off if you miss a workout, have nachos and beer instead of a healthy meal. You don’t need to kill yourself- after all, you have a whole year until your next resolution 😉. I’m kidding!  You’re not going to make another resolution because you’re going to refocus and adapt your habits into your life gradually, so they have a chance to stick.

Thirdly, work on switching your mindset from all-or-nothing. This is a cliche - I know - but for good reason: your health is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. You and your body are in this for the long haul, so appreciate that the accumulation of all of the little things you do add up your overall well-being. One thing won’t make or break you. So what if you stumble? That’s not the end. You pick yourself back up and keep moving forward.

Lastly, look back at the last few weeks and take stock of what you did and what worked for you.  Maybe you tried a new class and loved it. Great, do that class once a week if you can.  Maybe you cooked a new veg meal in an effort to eat less meat, and you were surprised by how tasty it was.  Incorporate that into your weekly recipe repertoire. In order to create new habits, it is paramount that you there is some enjoyment in the new habit.  If you hate running (me), that’s not going to motivate you to stick to your new running resolution. If you can’t stand lentils, try chickpeas instead. You get what I’m trying to say.

Tomorrow always comes, and that means an opportunity to resolve to do something good for yourself every morning that you wake up. So ditch the once-a-year resolution and replace it with smaller, manageable ones MOST days of the year.