As the month of new beginnings, fresh starts, and resolutions, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the different messages being projected to us. Why not explore the New Beginnings tab for more ideas?

Famous for an uptick in gym-goers, January sees health become a priority for many resolution-makers. In 2023, the top three resolutions in the UK were to do more exercise, lose weight, and improve diet [source].

Whilst it’s admirable to want to get healthier, the reality of resolutions in my experience has often boiled down to punishing regimes, restriction, and self-loathing – which is probably why up to 43% of people are expected to give up their resolutions by February [source].

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I’ve written previously on embracing your body, so I’m not going to labour the point excessively. Instead, I’m going to give some advice on how to make the changes you want to make a bit more sustainable, based on my own experiences with trying to get healthier.

Of course, I’m not a doctor. Any major changes to your diet, lifestyle, or exercise regime should always be explored with your doctor first.

Instead of…	…try
Approaching your weight loss goals from a place of hating your body…	Approaching it from a place of love – of wanting a healthier body you can do more with.
Trying to do a complete change overnight…	Make little changes. Start by doing five minutes of stretches, build to ten minutes of walking, then add doing weights. Keep gradually improving – it’s easier to keep at and more sustainable for making lifestyle changes.
Expecting results immediately…	Approaching your goals with a long-term view and not trying to rush progress.
Viewing it as “all or nothing”…	Allow yourself some grace. You need to enjoy your life as much as you need to stick to your goals. It should be about balance and moderation, not punishment.

Remember, you only get one body – although parts of it may be replaced over time. You also only get one life. You need to balance body messages between keeping yourself healthy and enjoying life!

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If you’re looking for a structured approach to understanding your goals, the ’31 Days of New Beginnings’ workbook might be for you! It’s based on teaching theories, psychology, mindfulness, and spiritual practice. It guides users through different phases of critical thinking to assist in understanding motivations, roadblocks, and aspirations, before teaching you how to plan manageable goals.

I have several reflective eBooks available via Ko-Fi and Etsy for digital download 🙂

How are you taking sensible steps to achieve your goals this year? I’d love to hear your snippets of wisdom!