New Year, New You Mentality in Eating Disorder Recovery
Now that it is 2023, everyone has been discussing their New Year’s resolutions and the “New Year, New Me” mindset. Often, these are followed up with wishes to lose weight, be “healthier,” and sign up for some fitness regimen. The diet culture industry takes advantage of this time by advertising different diet plans and gym discounts to fuel this idea even more.
By: Taylor Riches
But what if that wasn’t what “New Year, New Me” meant? What if you didn’t let diet culture take hold of your new year's resolutions this year and did something that actually served you?
Here are five resolutions that you can do that have nothing to do with diet culture:
Be Present
We tend to oscillate from the New York minute and being on the go to obsessing over that thing we may have done at the office holiday party. This year I encourage you to be present, stay in the moment, and take that “New Year, New Me” to a new level of presence. Maybe that means putting your phone down while watching a movie or taking a second to notice your surroundings. Or maybe that means going a little deeper by practicing meditation and mindfulness a few times a week. Whatever being present means to you right now, let’s bring it up a notch in the new year.
Spend More Time with Family and Friends, or Not
Sometimes we find ourselves going weeks without seeing family or friends, which can be hard on us mentally. The work week flies by, we commit ourselves to something on the weekend, and then next thing you know, 3 or 4 weeks go by without seeing our loved ones. Take time to schedule that FaceTime with your long-distance BFF or that coffee date with your mom. Or on the other hand, maybe you are so booked you don’t have time for yourself! We forget that we can say no to things if we feel run down and burnt out, especially socially. Plan a solo date and take yourself to the park to read that book you haven’t gotten to all year. “New Year, New Me” should be what you need it to be and not what someone else is telling you it should be.
Pick Up a New Hobby or Try Something New
“New Year, New Me” can also look like discovering something you didn’t know you liked about yourself. As talked about before, we are BUSY people, and that leaves little room for exploring new and old interests. Taking a new art class or skiing lesson can unlock a new talent you never knew you had.
Travel to a New City
Some of the best inspiration comes from traveling to new places. You may experience a new culture you haven’t been exposed to, a new way of living or thinking, or maybe you see some of the most beautiful landscapes. Whatever it is, there is always something so refreshing about a new place. Pick a place at the beginning of January that you want to visit and plan it. Plan what you want to do, make a budget, and rally some friends to take the journey with you.
Set a Goal for the Number of Books to Read This Year
Lastly, set a goal for the number of books to read this year. There are many books out there that can bring joy, laughter, sorrow, knowledge, and so much more. Setting a number goal for the number of books you can read, with a plan on how to do that, in a year will help bring accountability.
At BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, our compassionate, highly skilled team of clinicians is trained in diagnosing and treating the spectrum of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and other disordered eating and body image issues. Our 12-day winter intensive program can help you jump-start your recovery in 2023. Connect with our admissions team and learn more about our 12-day winter intensive program here.
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This post was written by BALANCE Social Work Intern, Taylor Riches (she/her).
Taylor is a Program Assistant and Social Work Intern here at BALANCE. She graduated from Adelphi University with her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology while minoring in Business and taking courses that focus on child and family studies in 2020. She now attends Hunter College's Silberman School of Social Work where she is intended to receive her Masters in Social Work in 2023. Taylor has been working in the eating disorder field since 2020. Throughout this time she has worked in admissions helping people take that next step in recovery. She has volunteered her time for organizations like the National Eating Disorder Association and the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.