Rethinking Resolutions: What if We Did It Differently This Year?

This month kicks off a special two-part Food for Thought series about New Year’s resolutions, but with a twist! December is all about setting the stage and reflecting, while January will focus on small, meaningful action.

Every December, the same question pops up: “What’s your New Year’s resolution?” And every year, I feel a little twinge of guilt if I don’t have a perfect answer ready. Lose weight? Be more patient? Finally get organized? (How many times have we said that one?). But maybe this year, instead of jumping into a list of things to change, we start with a pause.

December can be such a blur. With holiday concerts, gift lists, extra sugar everywhere…the list goes on! But it can also be the perfect time to slow down for a moment and look back. Ask yourself:

• What actually went well this year?
• What brought me joy or made me feel proud?
• What do I want more of in the year ahead?

We’re so used to focusing on what needs fixing that we forget to celebrate what’s already working. Maybe you found a new walking buddy, started packing better lunches (or packing a lunch, period!), or finally learned to say “no” when your plate was full. Those small wins matter.

So this month, give yourself permission to not plan a massive transformation. Instead, choose a word or theme for your new year. Something that feels grounding, like “balance”, “growth” or “calm”. Let that guide you instead of strict rules.

Because come January, you’ll already be moving in the right direction…not from pressure, but from a place of awareness and self-kindness.

Cheers to a peaceful holiday season to you and yours.

 

Jenn Giurgevich is the founder of Spark Nutrition & Health, a virtual nutrition consulting business.
Visit www.sparknutritionandhealth.ca for more information.