The New Year is just around the corner, which means an end to 2020 (thankfully) and the start to 2021 (hurray!). While excitement and the promise of a more rewarding year hang in the year, so do something else: Looming New Year’s resolutions.

More often than not, these resolutions fizzle out by March and we’re left feeling discouraged, like we failed ourselves somehow. But, what if the issue wasn’t that we didn’t have “enough” willpower, it was that the act of setting resolutions itself was the real problem. Why? Because humans only have a limited amount of willpower, and emotional parts of us tend to resist changes that feel inauthentic.

So, if not resolutions, what are the best strategies for self-improvement when the New Year inevitably rolls around? Keep reading for 4 ways you can feed that desire for enhancing your life without risking burnout:

Woman making heart with her hands, Austin, TX therapy, eating disorder therapy, self-esteem therapy, self-love

REJECT THE BLACK-AND-WHITE “TRANSFORMATION” MENTALITY

The historically present, “New Year New You” mentality has influenced a felt sense of urgency and anxiety around the New Year. AKA – if we don’t verbally commit to transform our eating habits, develop a new exercise routine, and overhaul our wardrobe, we feel like we’ve failed. Instead of attempting to reinvent yourself, set an intention to identify authentic values you want to align with, and set intentions based on those! I.e. If you value connection, what might this look like in an “ideal” world? Every decision you make then takes you a step closer or further away from this value.

INVEST IN LONG-TERM BENEFITS FOR YOUR BODY IMAGE, NOT THE QUICK FIX

A new skincare routine isn’t going to magically change your relationship with your body (I know, I know, I thought I’d get points for starting to wear more facial sunscreen too). Create authentic, long-lasting changes in your life by being curious about yourself and your needs. Now is the time to treat yourself the way you deserve to be treated – with compassion, interest, and intention. Schedule that appointment with a HAES-informed Therapist, Registered Dietitian, and Personal Trainer to help you improve your physical AND mental health!

AVOID SEDUCTIVE, DIET-CENTRIC MARKETING TACTICS

How often have you seen the promise of “Lose the weight and keep it off?” “Fall in love with your body for good with XYZ product!” I could go on. It’s tempting to hunt for the magic “cure” for body image and self-confidence, but an abundance of marketing tactics come from a desire to make money, not authentic care for the client (me and you, to be exact). This means that a large number of claims made by diet companies and gyms aren’t actually backed by research! Want to know what is? Invest in our Intuitive Movement Masterclass to debunk diet myths and develop a more educated, healthy relationship with your body.

FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU, NOT YOUR PHYSICAL BODY

Take the pressure off of yourself to love your body. Why? Because whatever we love, we can also hate! Love is far too passionate of an emotion to attach to something we have very little ability to actually change – our bodies aren’t silly putty, and set point is a very real thing. Move away from letting insecurity dictate fruitless attempts to shrink or tweak your physical body, and put energy and effort into caring for and being proud of the PERSON inside the body.

Fill out our contact form to begin your journey to cultivating more confidence within yourself today!