What Resolutions Look Like in 2021

This New Year will be like other New Years: you’ll get tired trying to stay up past midnight, you might wear something sparkly (glitter eyeshadow with your sweatpants counts), and you’ll probably make a list of resolutions. You’ll reflect on the lessons you learned from the past year and think about what accomplishments you want to make the next year. But the difference with this New Year, of course, is that the past year itself looked a lot different.

While resolutions typically don’t last long (turns out our brains are just not into abruptly changing habits when a day on the calendar is the only motivation), a different kind of year allows us to make new resolutions because we’re different too. In 2020, we’ve learned a lot, changed a lot, and grew a lot. We can break out of the endless New Year’s cycle and make resolutions that will actually last a lifetime. Here are six ways that resolutions are different this year, and some ideas for resolutions that you will care to keep:

Accept change

If we learned anything from 2020, it’s that nothing is a given. The most normal things like how we work, socialize, and greet each other have changed drastically. Companies (and careers) had to pivot, family traditions looked a lot different, and habits adjusted. The past year has taught us what happens when our plans change or we lack normalcy. While resolutions of past years might have been more focused on what you want to change, maybe this year’s resolution might be to strengthen your ability to change. No matter what 2021 looks like, resolutions will reflect that adapting is a skill, and accepting change is necessary.

Resolutions:

When I go through tough times, I will trust that everything will work out OK 

I will find new ways to reach any goal

I will practice letting go of expectations

I will appreciate the things that always stays the same.

Listen to your body

To preface, this “health goal” is different than the “run a marathon” or “lose weight” goals of New Years pasts. Those goals depended on external measurements to affirm us: a mile, a number on a scale, or a step count on a smartwatch. Instead, resolutions this year depend on internal measurements to achieve self-affirmation. Body intelligence (or listening to how your body feels) is the way we take back power. For example, do certain foods make you feel energized and happy, while others make you feel lethargic and sick? Eat based on that, not on a diet.

And forget what a nutrition label or a portion recommendation tells you is the serving size; eat until you are satisfied, without feeling stuffed. It’s time to acknowledge that every body is different and needs different things: that goes for food, exercise, and the pants size it fits into when it’s healthy. We have to stop thinking the secret to health is a magic pill or a fad diet; your body already knows what it needs to be healthy. You just have to listen.

Resolutions:

I will check in with my body before and after every meal to see how it feels

• I will exercise in ways that are exciting and fun for me
• I will ditch outdated food rules and focus on adding more nutrients instead of eating less calories

Ditch any “self-care” that doesn’t mean “self-love”

To be honest, I hate baths. I’ve tried a variety of luxurious bath soaks, have sipped on all my favorite wines, and even lit the fanciest candles. I’ve listened to podcasts, played music, and put on TV shows. But no matter what, I get bored, hot, and overall just feel… soapy. What actually feels like caring for myself? Taking a walk with my dog, spending 30 minutes to cook a fancy lunch (just because), laughing at trashy TV with my boyfriend, and going to regular therapy.