Four Perfectly Good Reasons for Not Making a New Year’s Resolution

(This blog article doesn’t replace therapy from a health professional.)

1. You’re more of a questioner type of person.  You say, “Who declared that we all do resolutions, anyway? Why not choose March 6, for example? I’ll make my resolution on my own timeline, thank you.”

2. You’re crushing it right now–why add one more task to conquer? If you were to add one more goal, you would be pushed over the edge into stress and busyness (kinda defeats the purpose of solid self-care, achievement, etc.).

3. You’re triggered by New Year’s resolutions. When you brainstorm a resolution, nasty thoughts take over your mind. “Am I not good enough the way I am? Am I too much of something else? Compared to that one girl on social media, I’m slacking, so I had better get going and catch up.”

4. You’re motivated by shame or low self-worth.  It’s one thing if your motivation is upbeat, excited, and positive. You’re pumped to meet the goal and you have an optimistic image in your mind of how it’ll turn out. In other words–you believe you’ve got what it takes to do it. 

It’s another thing if you’re motivated by “shoulds.” It’s another thing if the voice telling you to make the resolution is not yours, but instead the voice of an angry parent, spouse, teacher, etc. It’s another thing if you have a negative image in your mind of how things will turn out.

So, no pressure. Quit that New Year’s resolution before you make it.