10 New Year’s Resolutions That Aren’t Weight Focused

As 2020 comes to a close, influencers, magazines, and online publications can’t stop talking about “pandemic weight.” This is the weight that people have gained during quarantine, a high-stress period of life that led to more people living sedentary lives. Many people are already trying to think of ways to lose this weight, instead of celebrating the body that helped them survive this year. Weight gain is okay, and instead of focusing on the way our bodies look, we should be focused on giving our bodies respect and encouragement as we go into 2021. 

Every year, weight loss and exercise is a top New Year’s resolution. However, studies show that these resolutions are hard to stick to, and many will give up on them mid-January. Focusing on body image and weight loss can lead to dissatisfaction, and ultimately, not sticking to the goals you set. Healthy New Year’s resolutions should be attainable, and something that will help you feel more confident about yourself. So here are 10 New Year’s resolutions that aren’t weight focused!

1.Drink More Water

75% of Americans are dehydrated. This figure isn’t surprising when so many people rely on sodas, juices, and coffees as their beverage of choice. However, not drinking enough water can lead to irritability, skin issues, grogginess, and illness. Drinking a healthy amount of water can improve your health and wellness, and is a great way to fuel your body to feel stronger and healthier than before! A good rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water (if you weigh 150 lbs, drink 75 oz of water). 

2. Join a Club/Organization

2020 was a year that, at times, made us feel separated from one another. Going into 2021, joining a club or organization can help you make new friends, learn new skills, and feel connected to your peers. Many organizations are taking COVID-19 precautions, so look for virtual groups within your school, your church, or your community that speak to your passions and interests!

3. Make Art, or Make More Art!

Whether you consider yourself creative or not, art can help improve stress, self esteem, and quality of life. Whether your medium is paint, pen, film, or countless others, being creative is a way to positively change your life. Find inspiration on Pinterest, TikTok, or Instagram by following and sharing work from other creatives. Find your community, make art, and grow as a creative!

4. Say Something Positive About Yourself Everyday

A popular trend on TikTok is teenage girls recording themselves everyday, looking in the mirror, and telling themselves that they are beautiful. It is a way that social media is bringing positive change and healthy self-image for young teens. Some believe that daily positive affirmations can actually boost self-esteem and how we see ourselves, and if there is a chance that telling ourselves we are beautiful can actually allow us to see it for ourselves, why not give it a try? 

5. Spend Less Time on Social Media

While social media can allow us to connect with others, it can also create issues with comparison, self esteem, and FOMO (the Fear of Missing Out). While social media is, at times, necessary - especially during a global pandemic to keep in touch with friends and family, it is also overused. Lessening the time spent on apps like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok can help you connect with the people in front of you, give you time to pursue other interests, and improve mental health.

6. Stop Facetuning Selfies

While it can be easy to just edit out a blemish or whiten teeth with a push of a button, Facetune apps can have damaging repercussions on self esteem. A study by the International Journal of Eating Disorders found a strong connection between teen girls who manipulate their photos and those with body-image and food concerns. Eventually, the mind becomes used to the over-smoothed, highly perfect images edited in Facetune and it can be hard to accept the person from the picture on Instagram as the same person in the mirror. By committing to not Facetune selfies, you are celebrating your natural beauty and working toward a healthier body image and relationship with social media.

7. Journal

Journaling is a way to self-reflect on life. During a global pandemic, and what (hopefully) will be the ending of it, a journal is a great way to remember the good and the bad times that happened while the world stood still. Writing as a form of expression is a healthy way to process emotions, and can be a creative way to channel your energy. From writing, sketching, collage, to bullet journaling, there is no right way to journal - just buy a notebook and make it your own!

8. Vow to NOT Count Calories

For those struggling with eating disorders, fad dieting, or unhealthy body image, not counting calories can seem counterintuitive to all the messaging you’ve received growing up. However, deliberately not focusing on calories can lead to less stress, guilt, and worry about the foods you eat. Instead, focus on how the food you eat makes you feel. Find foods that make you feel happy and healthy, and that fuel your body to do all that you want to do. Don’t villainize the foods you eat or yourself, and choose to work on self-love in 2021. 

9. Volunteer in Your Community

Finding a volunteer organization you want to support is a great way to spend 2021. Volunteering is a rewarding way to give back to your community and to get to know others. Whether you are volunteering at an animal shelter, food bank, or a homeless shelter, there are so many opportunities to learn and grow!

10. Find a New Hobby or Skill

Are you obsessed with beautubers? Or always end up on plantTok? Maybe that’s a sign to try a new hobby! This goal can be as big (or as small) as you want. Maybe you want to learn to perfect winged eyeliner by the end of the year, or maybe you want to turn your room into a greenhouse! No matter what the goal, make it fun, learn from the many resources online, and maybe find something that you really enjoy!

Or Don’t Set a New Year’s Resolution!

Nobody says that you have to have a New Year’s resolution. In fact, it is perfectly healthy not to have one. If you prefer to live in the moment, or to create more abstract goals, don’t feel pressured to make a resolution you don’t feel motivated to stick to. Resolutions should be fun, not stressful. Listen to yourself, and make the best decision you can for you. 

You are enough exactly as you are. Resolve to Be More YOU this year!