A Reasonable Resolution

I’ve never been a fan of New Year’s resolutions - I mean, why wait until the new year to make a change that could benefit you today? Well, that’s human psychology for you. Despite all the cortex in our skulls, we aren’t always the most rational. But if the new year inspires you to improve yourself, it doesn’t really matter what’s logical or arbitrary. What matters is the behavior and end-result. So let’s talk about how to set (and attain) a reasonable New Year’s health resolution.

It’s crucial that any resolution is fundamentally rooted in self-care. Sadly, many people start their (often unsuccessful) fitness journeys from a place of self-hatred. They hate the way they look and want to change it; and they hate themselves because of the way they look. Resolutions crafted with an attitude of self-loathing encourage unsustainable and ultimately ineffective behaviors. You’ll beat yourself up in the gym daily, ignore aches and pains, and severely restrict your diet. These behaviors may help you develop a more desirable physique temporarily. However, eventually you’ll say “what the hell” and let loose, and the acute struggle will have proven futile. When you start your resolution loving yourself and truly wanting the best for yourself, you’ll naturally adopt healthier behaviors; and a trip to the gym or meal prepping won’t feel like such a chore. The same “healthy” act feels very different depending on the intention behind it: doing something because you want to treat your body well feels much less restrictive (and more enjoyable) than doing something because you hate yourself. And if you haven’t reached the point of loving and accepting yourself, perhaps that is the best resolution to achieve before striving for anything more.

Once you’re able to develop a resolution from a place of self-care, you’ll probably find that the steps toward improving your fitness and health aren’t as dramatic as society and the media portray. In fact, attempting to implement an abrupt change in behavior is almost a surefire trajectory to failure. Humans are creatures of habit: trying to break bad habits or start new ones often requires an element of graduality. Small changes in behavior are more likely to stick than monumental shifts; and baby steps add up over time. So, for example, if you’re looking to be more active, focus on working out just one day a week. When Monday workouts become the norm for you, toss in a weekly Wednesday workout. And repeat the process until you feel you have a solid routine. In addition, new habits are more easily formed when you attach them to pre-existing habits, a technique called habit stacking. For instance, if you want to walk more, plan on taking a 10 minute walk after every meal (assuming you follow a regular meal schedule). Lastly, in terms of dietary changes, consider adding to your diet rather than taking away anything, to avoid a restrictive mindset. Try to drink enough water, eat more protein, or include another fruit or vegetable into your meal. When you adopt these behaviors, you’ll automatically improve your diet and will be less inclined to overeat; consequently, you’ll probably indulge in less junk food without even realizing it.

It is easy to assert grandiose resolutions when energized by the holidays and the prospect of fresh beginnings. But, as you consider your goals for the coming year, take a pause and determine what is realistic for the daily, less motivated version of yourself; and ponder what is truly best for your health and well-being. If your resolutions originate from self-care with a healthy dose of realism - tempered by some knowledge of human psychology - you can be one of the few New Year’s resolutioners who actually implements a lasting change, bettering your life for more than just a few weeks.

The new year is a good excuse to start anew, to change, and to reflect. Cheers.