10 New Year's Resolutions That Aren't About Weight
Move over 2022, it’s time for a new year! As the holiday season comes to a close, many people choose to set goals for the year to come. Too often, these goals veer from seeking happiness or an improved quality of life into body shaming and fatphobia. One market research firm found that 43% of Americans resolved to lose weight in 2022.) But weight is just one factor of many that contributes to overall health. For 2023, consider ditching diet culture and embracing these resolutions to love and invest in yourself exactly as you are.
Prioritize Self Care
When life gets crazy, self care is often the first thing that falls to the wayside. Self care looks different for every person. It could mean setting boundaries at work, practicing mindfulness, pursuing therapy, or even just making more space for yourself to rest and recharge. Whatever you do, make your emotional wellness a priority in the year to come.
Read More Books
According to a Gallup poll, only 27% of Americans read more than 10 books a year. Studies have shown that regularly reading improves your brain health, vocabulary, and capacity to empathize with others. Whether your to-read list is nonexistent or a half-mile long, there are limitless books to choose from. For recommendations, visit your local library or independent bookstore.
Get to Know Your Neighbors
How well do you know your neighbors? The internet has made it easier to maintain social ties with friends and family across the globe, but this constant online connection can come at the expense of forging ties with the people around you. Consider joining your local community forums or neighborhood associations, setting up a little free library, or even just making an effort to chat with your neighbors when you see them on the sidewalk or around your building.
Try a New Hobby
The new year is the perfect time to pick up new hobbies and activities. With work, school, and other obligations, it can be hard to make time for the things that make you happy. Pick up an activity you used to love or try something new. Fishing. Drawing. Knitting. Music. Baking. Writing. The world is your oyster! Hobbies are also a great way to spend time with friends and make new ones. Join a book club, craft circle, or other community group in your area for fun and socializing.
Journal Once a Week
There are few practices as meditative and constructive as keeping a journal. It’s a great way to work through ideas, process emotions, and create a record of your life and experiences at a specific moment in time. Some people journal every day, but it’s easier to aim for at least one day a week so you don’t burn out. (It’s also a fun excuse to buy an artsy notebook and pen!) Round out the holiday season by giving a gift to your future self, we promise you won’t regret it.
Volunteer
This one is another great way to get involved in your community. Mutual aid and volunteer work is a wonderful way to give back and create bonds with the people around you. Buy groceries for an elderly neighbor, pick up shifts at a food pantry or shelter, join an advocacy group for a political or social issue you care about, or volunteer with a nonprofits or school. Start the year on the right foot by listening to and meeting the needs of your neighbors. Mutual aid changes lives and there are infinite ways to get involved.
Shop Local
The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent quarantine had a detrimental impact on small businesses across the U.S. As business slowed and unemployment soared, countless family-owned shops and restaurants (and in particular BIPOC-owned businesses) closed their doors for good. Big online retailers make it easier than ever to order goods from the comfort of your home, but do so at the cost of safe labor practices and environmental regulation. Try trading Whole Foods for the farmer’s market or department stores for smaller, independent vendors, reducing your carbon footprint and boosting your local economy along the way.
Say No to Social Media
There’s nothing quite like the dopamine rush that comes from scrolling through Twitter or TikTok. After all, the apps themselves are designed to keep you hooked. 69% of all U.S. adults and 86% of 18 to 29-year-olds use social media, which has been shown to negatively impact self-esteem and mental and physical wellbeing. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to limit your online consumption and digital footprint. Most smartphones have settings you can use to limit the time you’re able to spend on individual apps. (Free apps like SelfControl irreversibly block chosen websites for a predetermined amount of time.) Just think of all the free time you’ll have to kickstart the other resolutions in this list!
Invest in Friendship
You know the old adage: make new friends, but keep the old. Friendship isn’t just fun, it’s actually vital for your mental health. Reach out to friends (new and old) to catch up and reconnect. Keep track of your friends’ lives, interests, and hobbies, schedule regular phone calls and coffee dates, or send gifts or letters to show them you care. (Did one of your friends recently start a new job or achieve a goal? Cheer them on!) Even something as small as a text message or a happy birthday can go a long way. We can all use a little more love in our lives.
Get Sleep and Drink Water
Not to call you out, but statistically it is highly likely that you are not getting enough sleep or drinking enough water. Time to put a stop to dehydration and sleep deprivation! Invest in a water bottle. Trade your phone for a book before bed. Whatever works best for you. Your body and your brain will thank you.