It’s the new year, and that means there are countless messages about resolutions coming at you from all angles. You see them while watching TV, while you’re scrolling Instagram, while you flip through a magazine at the nail salon, and in your conversations with your friends.
All this to say, you’re on the receiving end of the societal pressure to do more in 2022. What is the normal response to that? Well, it’s creating a long list of resolutions to commit to! Whether it’s spending more time with family, working on your career, or taking 10,000 steps a day–your list starts to fill up quite quickly.
Is this obsession with New Year’s resolutions healthy? Does it serve us and our highest good? Today, I’m going to tell you three reasons why it’s not healthy, and why New Year’s resolutions are setting you up for failure.
1. One long list = recipe for disaster.
You feel like you’re starting strong with a long list of intentions. You want to lose weight, begin a mindfulness practice, spend less money, work on your conflict resolution, and spend more time with family. All these goals are noble but achieving them all at once is impossible! Talk about an overwhelming start to 2022.
What to do instead: Reflect on your accomplishments from 2021. Write them down. Now, that’s a list we can get behind! From there, circle three accomplishments you want to build upon. Make a commitment to take those into 2022.
2. Focusing on what you don’t have makes for a sad year.
These lists we make are things we don’t yet have. They’re dreams we have yet to realize. While it’s great to want better for ourselves, it places us in a scarcity mindset. It keeps us wanting instead of knowing these things are meant for us.
What to do instead: Use mindfulness to set intentions instead of resolutions, and word them in a positive way. Think more affirmations and less goals. Instead of telling yourself you’ll lose x pounds this year, tell yourself you’re already in touch with the needs of your body, and you’ll continue to prioritize a healthy relationship with your body, food, and movement. Speak to yourself as if it is already a reality!
3. Dreaming big doesn’t always result in big success.
When we look to a destination that doesn’t have a clear path, we might never make the journey. It’s because we can’t see the way forward–we can’t see the small steps it takes to get to the goal. When we focus so much on the result, we fail to focus on what it takes to get there.
What to do instead: Set small goals. Use more mindfulness and think about what you want to achieve. Once you have that, break it down into more bite-sized goals. Looking to enhance your self-confidence? Stop comparing yourself to sometimes Instagram highlight reel. Give yourself more grace. Don’t be so hard on yourself! These small commitments add up in the long run.
It all comes down to the basics
Anything you want to accomplish in life must come from a strong foundation. If you’re not getting enough sleep, or you don’t have a set morning and evening routine–today is the day to start. Go to bed early and wake up early. Once you have that down, move on to the next small goal. Do one thing at a time instead of setting 10 goals in one week.
For example, I know we just finished the holidays, but with the holidays comes bad eating habits. Sugar addiction is real! Don’t beat yourself up over enjoying holiday food, but make small choices daily to get back to healthy eating habits. And remember–be kind to yourself!
Still struggling with your New Year’s resolutions?
I have been through the same struggles and am here to help. I am a certified happiness coach and can help you overcome the mental obstacles that are keeping you from living your best life! Let’s connect today and get you started on a path towards peace and happiness.
