My Love-Hate Relationship with New Years Resolutions

I think New Years resolutions f*cking suck, but I always make them.

I love setting goals for myself (who doesn’t), but the one thing that always happens when I write too many goals is I inevitably don’t achieve one, and that annoys the shit out of me. It’s like by writing resolutions, I’m setting myself up to disappointed. It’s like I’m creating a competition that I can’t win, and I’m a competitive person. I can also see how this affects other people. They write a resolution to go to the gym everyday, miss one day, and spend the rest of the year beating themselves up over an unattainable goal. How is this supposed to make people feel better about themselves?

I do think, however, if you make resolutions that can actually be put into action, they can be life changing.

For example, one of my resolutions is to cut down my screen time to around 2-3 hours a day. I’ll be honest, my average is around 6-7 hours. That is just gross. Really. But, I do think my goal is achievable. I also don’t think I will complete this challenge right away. It will take some time, which is another thing that people struggle with (I’m talking about myself, I’m impatient). These standards will take time to pull off. I can’t go from 6-7 hours to 2-3 in one day, just like you can’t go from zero days at the gym to 5 right away. It won’t stick, and in my opinion, it’s not realistic. There’s always that joke that the gym will be busy for two weeks before people give up and it goes back to normal. People set impossible expectations, last for a little, and give up. That’s literally my point! Why are we doing this to ourselves!?

That’s why we have to word these resolutions different.

Instead of saying “I want to work out 5 days a week,” say “I want to make working out a habit” (My #2).

Instead of saying “I want to lose weight,” say “I want to be healthy and happy with my weight.”

Does this make sense? I really hope it does. Long story short, it's our mindset that matters.

Let’s make 2022 about finding balance and routine, rather than unhealthy standards that we put on ourselves.

Lots of love & a happy New Year,

s.k.s