The New Year New You Scam

If you do a google search with the words ‘New Year’ in it, the choices that pop up usually involve offering you links to find a new you, or a new career, fixing things. Basically, a wide range of options to make the failure that you are, a better person. Too many of us have been hoodwinked into believing “I’d be happier if I was thinner/fitter/smarter/richer…” We are encouraged to make resolutions to become that person we are supposed to be, and of course, at some point, we fail.

“This is bullshit. Bullshit!”

This is bullshit. Bullshit! A whole diet/wellness/fitness industry has been spawned playing on our fears of inadequacy. Food has become a treat or naughty. Exercise is done to burn off the bad food or as a punishment for being a sloth. Wellness is only wellness if you are thin and toned with jade eggs up your hoohah and crystals healing you.

If, upon reflection, you feel you are ready to implement some kind of change in your life or have a goal you want to achieve next year, there are ways to help yourself along. Here’s a handy link for goal-setting if you want to read a bit more about it.

Set yourself some fun goals, but make sure they’re fun for you! For example, I might want to read a book a week which brings me great joy, but it could be completely unattainable for somebody else. And when you don’t manage it, you ‘fail’ and fall back into the old pattern of self-loathing.

Before you go laying out resolutions and goals, spend some time figuring out how you actually spend your time. Track how much time you spend watching tv, online, working, doing chores and see where your windows of opportunity for change are. You may find that you don’t have the time to train for a marathon this year, rather than setting and failing yet another resolution. But you will have time to train for 10k, or attend Park Runs. Set attainable goals, and you’ll be better equipped to plan for obstacles that may get in your way.

Our biggest obstacle is often our mind. Our thinking habits are often what hold us back. I’ve worked with too many teams and athletes who are beaten before they even set foot on the field as their mindset was undermining them. Changing from “I’ll never manage that,” to “I might get some of the way,” really opens up the door of possibility. Here’s a piece about increasing our self-belief.

“create healthy habits, not restrictions”

Finally, remember that January first is probably one of the worst days you could even think of to implement any kind of change and feel good about it. It’s cold, wet and dreary so the chances of you going on that walk are already pretty low. You’re probably hungover. You’ve definitely eaten a lot over the past week. Chances are you’re battling with a cold or a cough.

Wait until you feel ready to create healthy habits, not restrictions.

Here’s something that took me years to learn. If you accept yourself and try new things, eventually you’ll find something that you enjoy and you’ll stick to it. If you feel better about yourself, you’ll be less tempted to over-eat or have unhealthy eating habits. If you like yourself, you’ll be happier in your skin. No resolutions needed.