It's Not That Bad #3: My Non-Toxic New Year's Resolutions
15 things to do more of in 2022
2022 has arrived, full of hope and question marks and…anxiety?
Many of us have been lucky enough to have had the last two weeks or so off work, celebrating Christmas and welcoming in the New Year, but mostly, those days have been full of rest. I’ve read a book, I’ve pickled some red onion, I’ve attempted to organise my paperwork. I’ve slept. I’ve napped in the middle of the afternoon, woken up after 9AM, gone to bed before 10PM. For the last four days I’ve been anxious and feeling a heightened version of ‘Sunday Scaries’, having just gotten used to life being centred around leisure, not work, if only for a couple of weeks, the return to ‘normality’ is looming. The burnout had been creeping up on me for two months, as it often does at the tail end of the year; we work nonstop, keeping the hope of late December in our minds as a time to reset. And this time, where no one knows what day of the week it is, is a nice limbo period that collectively bonds us. But we must prioritise rest more often, not just once a year. It is productive to rest and restore. Maybe the animals who hibernate have it right?
So, on that note, my first resolution for 2022 is rest. But I have some more! And the word diet won’t be mentioned once! 🥰
15 Things I Want To Do More Of
Rest when your body needs it. Do not feel bad if you need 10 hours sleep a night, or if you mark Sunday in the calendar as a time to do absolutely nothing.
Read more! Start a book club, set yourself a challenge of 4 books a month, use your local book swap, listen to audio books. And, where possible, get your books from independent stores or second hand.
Find out what makes you feel good & sexy that doesn’t have anything to do with your appearance. Mine is cooking a nice meal from scratch and lighting scented candles.
Pet every dog you can.
Stop beating yourself up if you lack structure. Reframe it. If you struggle brushing your teeth at the same time everyday, do it when you remember (even if it is in the middle of the day). If you hate unloading the dishwasher, do it listening to your favourite song. Do what you can, when you can. Little by little.
Move your body because it feels good to, not as punishment or to justify eating. Paddle in the shallow end if you want!
Learn to read tarot cards. It is a great party trick.
Take up writing love letters to your friends.
Romanticise doing boring things like cleaning, going to the shops or getting ready for bed.
Silk pyjamas are a sound investment.
Turn off the like count on Instagram posts that make you feel self-conscious posting. Why torment yourself?
Share the passion or hobby that you’re nervous about. Even if just with your partner/closest friends.
Learn to make fancy coffee at home. A nice milk frother is roughly the price of 25 coffees - you’ll be saving money within a month or two.
Scream into pillows more often.
Set weekly intentions. ‘I am…’, ‘I will…’, ‘I feel…’.
Let me know your non-toxic resolutions in the comments!