Health and Wellness: New Year's Resolutions That Have Nothing To Do With Losing Weight

By Audrey Garrett

​Weight loss centered New Year's resolution set us all up for year-long frustration, body comparison habits, and objectively gross tasting "low-carb" pasta and cookie recipes. 

Let's be honest: most people have already given up their resolutions anyhow, and they weren't even that good in the first place. This year, there should be a  “zero-guilt” attitude toward everything we eat and enjoy as we attempt to set ourselves up for greatness with courage facing 2021.

Below are three New Year's resolution tips to promote habits that make a happy mind and have nothing to do with weight loss, clothing measurements or egg whites but everything to do with pleasure and pampering. 
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Do Something That Brings You Joy (Two Servings Suggested!)

​Instead of taking away pleasures of food and treats from your daily routine, add activities and ingredients to your schedule that bring you joy. These daily doses of fun can include the thrill of taking an extra-long hot shower to cap your night or scheduling a FaceTime with that friend who makes you laugh harder than a Jordan Firstman TikTok (rare, I know). I highly suggest adding dark chocolate or your preferred treat of choice into your esteemed Instacart "Permanent Shopping List".

​If we are going to make it through 2021 let us make sure to accept and accentuate our pleasures and to never shy away from a late-night friendly phone call or Dove chocolate square.

Resist Making Your Bathroom Into Your Office

​Now that we can work all day (and every day) from our computers and webcams, many of us do. There is no fly on my wall who has not seen me comfortably on the toilet on a muted Zoom with the camera turned off.

​For 2021 and all years to come, it is vital we separate work from the rest of life. Before the pandemic, we had the hidden privilege of commuting from work physically either by car, train or foot. The old physical commutes from work reminded us to separate work from everything else we had going on, now, all we have is a red “leave meeting” button on Zoom.

​This year, encourage yourself to make rituals to transition your mind and body from work to free-time by finding ways to turn off the screen and mental monitor. 

Tips:

• Separate your dinner table from your work space. 
•  Do not bring your inbox or any other work paraphernalia into the bathroom/ shower
•  Change into even comfier clothes after work
•  Put your phone and email away two hours before bed. 

These tips will hopefully remind you to keep work separate and allow you to dine, snooze, and bathe in peace.  2021 will probably be an uphill year, let's keep our unpaid work to a minimum. 

Remember to Press "Play"

​The internet is filled with reliable mood boosters of music, dance, and comedy and is readily available at your fingertips. Use it! 2021 will be no doubt be chaotic (already we have Kim and Kanye rumoring a marriage split), so before you pick a new burdensome workout plan to purchase or a restricting diet to conform too, try engaging in the things that bring you joy naturally.

For starters, write down the 12 things that are guaranteed to boost your serotonin levels and are available to you throughout the day. This could be a walk around the neighborhood with a book before lunch, a WAP inspired workout before bed, or a Crime Junky podcast binge to listen to while waiting for the sheets to dry. Or maybe pick a Spotify playlist, a Beyoncé dance compilation, or any podcast that strikes your fancy to split up your workday and prolonged time in the house. 

Whatever it is, add it to your day without guilt or reservation and enjoy the repercussions of watching the queens Megan the Stallion and Cardi B inspire your dreams each night.