New Year’s Resolutions That Aren’t Dieting

Sharing 17 New Year’s resolutions that aren’t dieting.

The New Year brings a sense of new beginning. Many of us are compelled to make some new goals and improve at the start of the year. The problem is, I see so many people set unrealistic goals for themselves. Then as February comes, they give up on their goals.

As the New Year approaches, I encourage you to ignore the diet culture and pressure that comes with it. I’m here to tell you that you DON’T need to lose weight or detox after the holidays.

So instead of setting goals to lose weight or start a new diet this year, try to set small realistic goals for yourself. Goals that aren’t related to your appearance. To help you get started, I’ve listed many goals here to inspire you. Maybe you’re doing many of these things already or many none. Either way, I hope you can find one or more goals to for yourself as the New Year starts.

How To Attain Your Goals

Setting goals is easy, but sticking to them is the hard part. Instead of setting big goals for yourself this year, try to make a few intentions. Reflect on a few things you’d like to achieve or work on this year. Then, break it into small attainable and short term goals. For example, you could set weekly and monthly goals that are realistic and specific. Hopefully, as you focus on these smaller goals, you’ll get closer to achieving your bigger ones.

New Year’s Resolutions to Inspire you this New Year

Health

Eat more fruits and vegetables: This is one of the best things you can do for your health. Fruits and vegetables are full of fiber, vitamins and minerals. They have so many health benefits! Not a vegetable lover? Try different ways of cooking them. My personal favorite: Roasted with a little oil and salt. It changes the taste completely.

Eat more plant protein: Maybe you’re not ready to shift to a plant-based diet. That’s okay. However, eating less meat can offer several health benefits, not to mention that it’s a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and care for the animals. You don’t need to go vegan or vegetarian to see those benefits. You can start with just a few plant-based meals per week or one per day. Or you can be vegetarian at home, but not when you eat out. Whatever makes it more realistic and sustainable for you.

Drink more water: Most of us don’t drink enough water. Maybe your goal could be to buy yourself a nice water bottle and make it a point to carry it wherever you go. It also saves on plastic!

Try a new exercise: Bored of your exercise routine? Don’t like exercising? Try something new. Maybe you’ll find something you enjoy! And remember, walking and yoga can count for exercise. Try to move your body in a way that’s enjoyable and that’s not aimed at losing weight.

Take care of your gut: This may sound odd for some of you, but gut health is so important and many of us struggle with it. Whether you have IBS (or any digestive issues) or not, it’s a good idea to care for your gut. If you need guidance, you can seek help from a dietitian. They can recommend a probiotic supplement or help you find foods that are triggering your symptoms.

Work on your relationship with food: This may be the most important point in this list. Improving your relationship with food and your body is MUCH more important than losing weight or eating a perfect diet (as if that existed). Trust me, I understand how difficult it can be, but it’s the best thing you can do for yourself. If you don’t know where to start, try finding a dietitian that focuses on intuitive eating and that uses a weight-neutral approach (You can book an appointment with me if you’re located in Kelowna or a virtual appointment if you’re in Canada). If you’re not ready to see a dietitian, you can check out this great book on intuitive eating. It can help you until you feel ready.

Self-Care

Read more books: I personally love to make a goal of reading at least one book per month every year. Maybe for you it’s more or less. Either way, reading can be a great way to relax or learn something new.

Meditate 5 minutes per day: I know, I know. Meditation doesn’t sound appealing for many of us. Maybe you’ve tried it before and couldn’t do it or felt silly doing it. I definitely have a hard time sitting still for more than 1 minute. No matter what, there’s no denying the benefits of mediation. This may be a good time to find a way to fit some mediation into your life. This could be as simple as sitting down and doing deep breaths for a few minutes every morning or evening.

Start a yoga practice: Yoga is so good for your mental and physical health. If you’re new to yoga, you can start with a local studio once a week or find some beginner yoga videos online (I love Yoga with Adriene). If you’re still not sure about yoga, just think of it as a way to improve your flexibility. Lay on your mat and do some gentle stretches. If you have any health issues, make sure to check with your doctor first!

Establish a morning and night time routine that works: This is especially important if you have trouble sleeping at night. Find a way to unwind in the evening. Maybe it’s being off your phone, doing some light yoga or reading a book. Whatever works for you. It’s also a good idea to find a skin care routine that makes you feel your best.

Limit screen time in the evening (or first thing in the morning): To follow the last point, maybe it’s time to set some boundaries for yourself concerning your phone. This is especially true for those, like me, that a big part of their jobs is online. Turn off your phone and try to relax in another way before going to bed.

Donate clothes that don’t fit: Avoid keeping clothes that don’t fit you just because you have a goal of losing weight. It can cause guilt and negative thoughts. Instead, try to fill your closet with clothes that make you feel comfortable and beautiful at your current size. There’s nothing comfortable or beautiful about stuffing yourself in jeans that are too small, just because you’re trying to ignore some weight gain.

Declutter your space: I don’t know about you, but a cluttered living space or office makes me feel anxious and disorganized. If you feel the same way, try to declutter your space, organize your things and see how it makes you feel. It’s a great way to start a new year!

Declutter your social media: Unfollow any account that encourages diet culture or that make you feel bad about yourself or your body. Any account that makes you think you need to change your appearance or start a new diet. Basically, don’t encourage anyone that promotes diets, detoxes or any similar message.

Professional

Learn a new skill: Is there anything you’ve always wanted to learn, but never had the courage? Make it your goal this year!

Start something new: To follow on the last point, the new year is a great time to start something new! This could be to start a blog or work towards your dream business.

Find a work-life balance: And remember, work is not everything. Maybe your biggest challenge is to find a balance. This year, try to find ways to take care of yourself. Maybe force yourself to take a day off once per week or to take an hour to yourself every day.

What are your goals this year? Do you make New Year’s resolutions?