5 New Year's Resolutions That Have Nothing To Do With Changing Your Body
Colleen Werner
Now that the new year has arrived, our society is flooded with messages about how we need to create New Year’s resolutions centered around changing our bodies.
Instead of listening to the triggering, unhealthy messaging that our culture perpetuates around the new year, consider trying these New Year’s resolutions that have nothing to do with changing your body.
1. Learn a new skill.
Learning a new skill is an excellent way to find a greater sense of purpose. It can help you realize parts of yourself that you never knew were there, and it can show you that it’s never too late to learn something new.
2. Read more often.
Reading frequently helps to keep your mind active, and it provides a way to unplug from the hectic nature of life and social media. Whether it’s novels or self-help books, try creating a habit of reading for a little while each day.
3. Meditate every day.
Meditation reduces stress, improves concentration, also has physical health benefits. Apps like Headspace make it easy to start meditating, and they have meditations as short as three minutes! While meditating may be frustrating at first for some people, it is a great way to quiet your mind and get back in touch with your breath.
4. Delete/unfollow people who don’t bring joy to your life.
In our social media saturated society, there are so many options of who to follow/friend online. It can be tempting to view profiles of people who have a portrayal of a “perfect” life, however, this can actually be detrimental to your mental health. If viewing someone’s posts doesn’t bring you happiness, delete or unfollow them.
5. Try to journal every day.
With our fast-paced lives, it can be difficult to take time to reflect on how we are truly feeling each day. Set aside 10-15 minutes each day to dedicate to writing in your journal. Whether you enjoy free writing, making lists, writing poetry, or doodling, expressing your thoughts on paper can be powerful.
As the new year approaches, I encourage you to take the challenge of choosing to work on bettering your mind as opposed to changing your body.
Colleen Werner is a writer, dancer, and future therapist from Long Island, NY. She’s studying Psychology at SUNY Old Westbury and plans on going to graduate school for Mental Health Counseling. She aspires to start an eating disorder treatment program for dancers. Colleen’s experiences in recovery from an eating disorder and anxiety disorder have inspired her to share her story in an effort to help others, end the stigma, and create a sense of community. She is a National Ambassador for Project HEAL, a Campus Editor-at-Large for HuffPost, and a contributor for HerCampus and The Mighty. Colleen’s Instagram, @leenahlovesherself, inspires thousands every day with her posts about authenticity and mental health.
