Embracing Consistency Over New Year's Resolutions: A Pathway Towards Realistic Expectations

By: Marissa Pollet

As we turn the calendars and embark on a new year, many of us find ourselves caught in the web of New Year's resolutions. While the idea of setting goals for self-improvement is wonderful, the pitfalls of traditional resolutions often outweigh their benefits. Let’s explore the downsides of New Year's resolutions and highlight the need for consistency in our lives that foster our mental well-being.

The Downfalls of New Year's Resolutions:

• Unrealistic Expectations:
o Quite often when a New Year’s Resolutions is set, the bar is too high, leading to unrealistic expectations. A popular resolution is increased physical fitness or weight loss. A lofty goal of working out seven days a week may sound fulfilling in your head, but it can also be setting you up for failure. These unrealistic goals can result in frustration and disappointment if they are not achieved and ultimately derail what you planned on accomplishing. Setting your goals for a more manageable timeframe and building upon your success will be way more fulfilling.

• All-or-Nothing Mentality:
o Resolutions tend to encourage an all-or-nothing mindset. “If I don’t meet my goal for this year I have failed yet again.” This is another downfall of a resolution. Change is hard, especially when we are trying something new, and it is out of our comfort zone. If you lead with an all or nothing mentality, a sense of guilt and failure can occur which is detrimental to your well-being.

• Short-Term Focus:
o New Year's resolutions often prioritize short-term changes. A year is a long time to sustain a change that you have planned on implementing in your life. A healthier approach would be to focus on smaller goals that can help you sustain what you have planned to achieve. Creating a benchmark for success and logging what you have accomplished helps pave the way towards long- term consistency.

Consistency as the Key to Mental Health:

• Gradual Progress:
o Consistency promotes gradual progress over time. As simple as this sounds, the key to promoting change is staying consistent. The saying we are what we repeat resonates when you are on the path towards reaching your desired outcome. Whatever goal you have for the new year, taking small consistent steps contributes to more sustainable progress and will help alleviate the notion of feeling overwhelmed. Remember, small steps add up to big results!

• Mindful Habits:
o Mindful habits help to foster self-awareness and promote mental well-being in a more holistic manner. The idea of mindfulness may not seem as important when you are focusing on goals you want to achieve, but the art of harnessing breath and applying gratitude as an example can help you to stay centered and consistent.

• Adaptability:
o Consistency allows for adaptability to changing circumstances. Life as we know it can be unpredictable with unforeseen ups and downs. The ability to adjust your habits to fit evolving needs reduces stress that can be associated with rigid plans.

• Positive Reinforcement:
o Consistency provides a platform for positive reinforcement. It is important to celebrate small victories along the way as it reinforces a positive mindset. As you begin to see growth and your ability to stay consistent becomes a habit, celebrate your achievements as you have decided to put yourself first!

While the allure of New Year's resolutions may be strong, embracing consistency proves to be a more effective and sustainable approach to fostering mental well-being. Focusing on gradual progress, mindful habits, adaptability, and positive reinforcement, you can embark on a journey of self-improvement that aligns with your unique needs and values. Let this be the year you prioritize the power of consistency for lasting mental health benefits.

Our team of caring professionals at Inspired Wellness are here to provide support and guidance towards your path of mental wellness. We believe that every individual has the ability to be the best version of themselves and our goal is to set you up with the tools to maintain a well-balanced life that will place you on the path towards lifelong change. We strive to create a non-judgmental environment coupled with therapeutic practices that are tailored towards each individual. At Inspired Wellness our team aims to do exactly as our name says, inspire you towards a beautiful life of strength and wellness!