New Year, New me?!
By Alli Gilden
As another year begins, the popular “new year, new me” trend resurfaces. For some, the new year can provide opportunities for reflection and rebalance; for others, the new year comes with added pressures and stresses.
“New year, new me” messaging can come from television, magazines, social media, and even family, friends, and coworkers. At first, it may seem like a good idea, but it has the potential to provide disappointment and guilt if expectations are not met. While “new year, new me” masquerades as the “healthy” option, the focus is really on changing one’s physical appearance. At Stark Therapy Group, we subscribe to the Health At Every Size (HAES) model, emphasizing the presence of health regardless of body size. “New year, new me” also has a large focus on “should” and what one should or should not do. This contributes to toxic diet culture and reinforces the idea of “I will be happy once…”
This should by no means discourage readers from reflecting on the past year or setting new goals to reach. There is so much positivity that can be gained from being intentional and having a growth mindset! Below are some suggestions for “new year, new me” reflection that does not emphasize change to physical appearance:
What is one habit you formed last year that you want to continue this year?
What is one thing you would like to add, not remove, from your life this year?
How would you like to show up for the important people in your life this year?
What would you like to achieve in the next three months? Six months? 12 months?
To encourage and inspire you, dear reader, I will answer the questions above. One habit I formed last year that I will continue is my Sunday reset. I can tackle my week much easier without clutter taking up mental, emotional, and physical space. One thing I would like to add to my life this year is more vibrancy to my wardrobe. I mostly wear neutrals but love the feeling of wearing a bright color. One way I would like to show up for those important to me would be to reach out and make plans instead of waiting for someone to call or text me with plans. Making yearly goals can feel daunting, so it’s easier for me to break them up into smaller chunks. My three-month goal is to have my AMFT number and start seeing clients! My six-month goal is to save enough money to take a nice vacation. My yearly goal for 2023 is to keep my plants alive for another year. I’m still developing my green thumb…
If you related to this blog post and are looking for an awesome therapist to help you navigate what “new year, new me” means to you, or for a skilled therapist to help you pinpoint your goals, Stark Therapy Group is here to help!
References:
https://equip.health/articles/recovery/healthy-new-years-resolutions/
https://fashionjournal.com.au/life/new-years-resolutions-diet-culture/
Services:
Stark Therapy Group offers therapy for all types of eating disorders, including Anorexia, Binge Eating Disorder and Bulimia. We offer a 3-tiered family based support for teens in eating disorder recovery. We also provide cutting edge trauma therapy called Brainspotting. We treat anxiety, depression and general mental health conditions. We offer 3-tiered family based support for teens with general mental health issues. We offer culturally competent therapy for BIPOC folks. We also offer couples therapy. We would love to help you on your mental health journey. Reach out today for a free consultation!