With the New Year around the corner, you may be starting to brainstorm and planning for your 2022 Resolutions. However, here is your permission to leave ‘lose 10 lbs’ off that list. The year is filled with 365 days worth of new adventures, skills, friendships, and opportunities awaiting. The ’10 lbs’ you may want to lose is not worth even a second of your time this 2022 year.
The temptation and pressure to have to be different and an ‘all new’ version of yourself is sky high as the year comes to a close. However, that does not make it right nor fair. What many people start to forget, is that we are all uniquely different for a reason and this reaches much further than physical appearance, but into personality, skills, traits, and qualities.
Imagine if year after year your resolution was to be 5 inches taller, now can we see how difficult and practically impossible that would be? While I am not saying losing weight is impossible, I’m rather bringing to light that it is not worth losing your positive relationship with food. Here are five items to add to your resolutions that not only support your recovery, but hopefully bring you closer to a healthier relationship with yourself.
1. Self-Care. Self-Care is crucial for being able to disconnect from the ‘go,go,go’ lifestyle and ‘check-in’ with yourself. This can be as simple as taking 10 minutes to dance to your favorite song.While this may not be easy in the beginning, once you find your groove it’ll become almost difficult to stop!
2. Unplug. It is safe to say that in today’s time it truly is important to be connected with our technology just to be able to get from point A to point B or even for work/study. However, that does not mean it should consume us. Take a social media break, and unplug from the habitual scrolling and feeds, and see how reconnecting with reality may help support you with your goals and connection to self. Start this year with one day a week where you choose to ‘Unplug’!
3. Explore. Start something new this year, whether it be a hobby, activity, or change in routine. Here are a few ideas that may interest you this new year
Painting
Pottery
Puzzles
Sudoku
Reading Challenge
Activity ( i.e. bike riding, dancing, mountain climbing)
4. Connect. The year 2021 has definitely brought its own challenges as far as being able to connect with people. However, with that, people have become creative and formed outlets in which connection is still very much possible! Try an in-person or virtual group that interests you and connect with people from your community or even around the world. A few examples can include:
Foreign Language Club
Sewing Club
Nature Club
Instrumental Club
5. Compassion. Last but not least, show yourself compassion this year. There has been a lot of change around the world these past few years, so understand that it is okay to not be okay and ask for help. Showing yourself compassion and asking for what you need is the most powerful thing you can do for yourself in 2022.
We encourage you to talk about these 5 tips with your therapist and dietitian as we hope they are helpful for you during the New Year. If you have any questions or concerns, please give our office a call at 571-310-6029 or email us directly at info@enlightencounselingandcare.com.