Ending the year with softness
“New Year, New You”
“Start Strong”
“Conquer the New Year”
“ 75 Hard”
“Finish Strong”
These are all phrases I’ve seen just in the last 24 hours on social media. Winter should be a time of rest, reflection, slowing down, eating more, enjoying warm foods, conserving energy. I have always enjoyed weather and leaning into this period of rest. This time of rest and slowing down tends to collide with the general themes of New Year’s Resolutions.
Now, let me clarify… I enjoy goals. I set goals and I think they can be useful tools towards building a healthy habit (whether health/wellness/financial/educational).
My hesitation with New Year’s Resolutions is that often times we don’t necessarily know the why behind our resolutions. Example: One of the most popular resolutions centers around weight loss in the new year. Why do you feel you need to lose weight in January? The entire weight loss/“health” industry has crafted that narrative for many years. The weight loss and weight management market is valued at over 200 billion USD (with the “wellness” industry over 6.3 TRILLION USD) … and much of that money is made in January. We are made to feel shameful for eating more heavily in November/December (which is exactly what we are designed to do in winter) and to undo that damage with a juice cleanse/75 Hard/injections/you name it. Losing weight is *not* a bad goal for *some* folks but think about the why behind that goal if it is something you feel called to focus on.
Why right now? Is this the right time?
Is there a non-scale goal that could feel healthier mentally?
Is there something healthy that you could *add* into your life instead of restricting?
Will you still feel nourished while trying to reach this goal?
How will this goal make me feel physically and mentally?
With the push towards “perfection” online and continuous rise of disordered eating/eating disorders* I personally suggest reflecting on the above questions before considering that goal.
Similar questions can be asked for any goal. As you think about entering the new year, how can you end the year with more softness? More grace. More ease. The past few years have been hard for most. Any amount of softness should be embraced. Maybe that looks like giving yourself extra cozy reading time, adding in a weekly walk with a friend, more restorative Yoga to focus on slowing down, eating at least one meal a day without looking at your phone and fully enjoying that nourishment. Let’s carry that softness into 2025. I have a feeling you’ll find that with softness towards ourselves, you’ll feel stronger in more ways than you can count… and your nervous system will thank you as well.
*If you are struggling with an eating disorder/disordered eating, please consider working with a therapist if you are not currently. You are not alone. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/get-help/