By Laetitia Satam, General Member
Let’s face it - we’ve all felt the pressure of the “New Year, new me” mantra. Why do we preach self-love all year long, yet there is an annual urge to undergo a drastic “transformation” of ourselves annually? Why do we discredit all the hard work we’ve already invested? The truth is, the new year does not have to equate to a new you. There is no reason for the new year to signify a new version of ourselves.
Now, I don’t want to say you shouldn’t have goals. If you’ve been making strides all year, the new year can motivate you to keep that momentum going! If you want to make healthy changes, go for it! Healthy growth is essential, and a new year can feel like a catalyst for making these changes. We do not need influencers and corporations telling us what changes we have to make, how to make them, or the stress of making these changes at an unsustainable pace. From toxic diet culture to consumerism, the new year is shifting from a time to enjoy with friends and family, to an isolating place of “transformation”.
Surveys have found that 59% of young adults (18-34), as opposed to only 19% of adults older than 55, a report setting a New Year resolution; even though being a young adult is already a stressful time full of growth, major life changes and developments. This could mean specific, possibly vulnerable populations being targeted to change themselves when they did not even want to or being pushed to make drastic changes in an unhealthy way. When you consider social media and advertisements' role in New Year's resolutions, it is no wonder younger audiences are also targeted. For young adults already navigating a rapidly changing world, the pressure of having new goals you “have” to achieve can be stressful. Studies have also shown that countries like the USA and Canada tend to set more resolutions, especially compared to our Western European and Nordic counterparts, at 37%, as opposed to 12-14% (Davis, 2023). This hints towards a difference in lifestyles; Western European and Nordic countries have consistently been found to be happier and healthier (Grenier 2016). This is partly due to their consistent healthy lifestyle, not sudden waves of needing to change their lifestyles. It’s not enough to change your life for a few weeks in January but then find it so challenging to maintain you have to revert your goals. The goal should be to make small, sustainable changes without rash decisions. It is the small decisions that compound into significant changes. Your social environment also has a lot to do with it; if you surround yourself with people making these quick and rash goals without a long-term game plan to be successful, it can ultimately be detrimental to your health. As many European countries see increasing health and lifestyle outcomes reflected in Canada and the USA, I wonder if they’ll also see increasing rates of New Year's resolutions.
Others have found it is not detrimental to creating a goal but rather the plan's scope and where it stems from (Baksh 2021). For example, simply saying you want to get “into shape” is quite broad, with no set point of what getting into shape means, while having a goal of running a 5k is something where it is easy to measure your progress. Furthermore, these goals can become detrimental if rooted in a place of self-loathing or poor self-image.
Convincing yourself that there is something about you that is “wrong” or that you have to “fix” can be detrimental to your mental health. Instead, I would advise you to have goals that allow you to be happy with who you are. If you have negative self-talk or become obsessed with your plan, talking to your loved ones about how you are feeling and reassessing your goal may be beneficial.
The narrative of “New Year, New Me” continues to be harmfully propagated, but it does not mean we should belittle those who do want to use the New Year to set some goals. I want to touch on the shame people receive from others when they try to achieve a new purpose. Many long-time gym goers will complain when the January rush hits, but I want to challenge people to channel those frustrations into support. We were all new to the gym at one point, and for some people, that support may help them see the gym as a life-long habit. Surveys have shown that 48% of people put fitness as their top New Year's resolution, making it the most common New Year's resolution and showing that health is a focus for many people. I think this is wonderful and that it can be inspiring. Health encompasses many aspects of health, including physical and mental health.
Ultimately, health comprises the millions of small decisions we make daily. For those looking for a New Year’s Resolution, I advise looking into the various aspects of health and the small things you can do to make yourself happier.
Regardless of whether you are setting a New Year resolution, the YCRH hopes everyone steps into the new year feeling energized and ready to tackle another year! If you are feeling under pressure this holiday season, please know you are not alone and that there are many resources out there if you need support.
References
Baksh, Justin. “New Year’s Resolutions May Harm Your Mental Health... 5 Things to Do Instead - Foundation Wellness.” Foundation Wellness, 2021, foundationswellness.net/mental-health/new-years-resolutions-harmful-to-your-mental-health-5-things-to-do-instead/.
Davis, Sarah. “New Year’s Resolutions Statistics 2023.” Forbes Health, 11 Jan. 2023, www.forbes.com/health/mind/new-years-resolutions-statistics/.
Grenier, Matthew. “How Healthy Are Europeans?” ILCUK, 9 Sept. 2016, ilcuk.org.uk/how-healthy-are-europeans-2/. Accessed 23 Dec. 2023