Debunking New Year’s Resolutions
Okay, it’s the new year, and there’s all of the “New Year, New Me” mumbo jumbo circulating. This is going to be harsh, but you’re not a “new you.” You’re still the same compilation of experiences and lessons learned from life. Nothing truly changed the person that you are between the clock changing from 11:59 PM to 12:00 AM. So, when are we going to acknowledge that we continue to strive for perfection by waiting for the best possible time? That we keep waiting for the start of a new week, another month, or even a new year as a reason to accomplish, or even change, something?
The perfect time doesn’t exist because, for many things, you can start now. Many weight loss journeys fail because it’s too much to jump into all at once and everyone wants immediate results. Your business isn’t successful because you were trying to build it overnight without considering how much work it would take.
Let’s break this down a bit, shall we?
In order to, let’s say, lose weight, you have to consider multiple factors such as diet (food intake), exercise (always mindful movement, please), rest, self-care, mental wellness, finances, and time. There’s likely more but, I can’t think of anything else at the moment. If you wipe your fridge and clear your pantry of all the junk and think that you’ll go to the gym every day for an hour or two, what were you honestly thinking?
Consider this: if you’re not used to eating certain foods for a majority of the time, you will most likely lose interest and become bored. You’ll find “excuses” for why you end up sneaking in a bit of those food vices. Not paying attention to the fact they’re too familiar and some of the emotional triggers that make you want to eat them have not been dealt with. Emotional eating is a true vice.
If the farthest you walk is from your car to Target, then how can you incorporate a successful cardio routine when it’s not your body’s norm?
Simple tricks such as parking further from a store entrance and opting to take the stairs over the elevator, if you’re physically able, can do wonders in inspiring your body to move more. I understand that streaming is a popular occasion these days, but what if you added a few squats or crunches during the theme song or the dreaded commercial breaks (seriously Hulu, I’m not paying additional just to remove commercials)? Like I mentioned earlier, simple tricks.
To be honest, I’ve had a gym membership for a few years and it’s pretty boring if you don’t know what you like to do to get your body moving. There’s nothing wrong with forgoing the gym and opting for a jog in your neighborhood or hiking some local trails. While I am a fan of Whole Foods, Sprouts and Trader Joe’s are my favorite grocery stores. Okay, I know I’m at that level of adulthood when I have a favorite grocery store. But regardless, Sprouts and Trader Joe’s are within my budget. But, your budget might align more with a different grocery store. Heck, even Target or Wal-Mart both have grocery sections!
The point is work with where you are and please, stop pressuring yourself to make everything look Instagram worthy. Your relationship with yourself and evolving nature cannot be truly documented. I knew that I had reached a pivotal state in my Anorexia recovery when I recognized when I was in a vulnerable mindset and I would have abused the gym. During those times, I didn’t go and that’s okay.
Sometimes, you may even find yourself craving water with your meals, instead of forcing it because “it’s the healthy thing to do.”
It’s important to note that it could take days for you to reach a breakthrough, months, or possibly even years. Thanks to treatment, I learned that recovery is not a straight line. Recovery always has ups, downs, twists, turns, double backs, and even, some acceleration. Isn’t that the same for life? We’re not always making the same mistakes over and over.
There’s this adage by the “gurus” that it takes 21 days to build a habit. Whether that’s true or not, reframe this statement to be that it takes however long it takes for you to incorporate a lifestyle change. So start when you start but, I challenge you to start with one step right now.
Maybe it’s carving out the time to read a couple of pages on becoming a successful Etsy seller. It could be decluttering your sock drawer because you’re tired of mismatched socks and worn socks always ending up on your feet. Whatever it is, try to start today and if not today, then tomorrow. Wherever you are in your life’s work, forget the resolutions and the best time to begin. There will never be a more perfect time.