Worried About New Year’s Resolutions?

Ways to find relief

Of all the months of the Gregorian calendar, January is by far the most stressful. The primary reason is the popularity of New Year’s resolutions. While resolving to do something can be exciting and challenging, it can also put undue pressure on you to keep them. Some of the most common resolutions are quitting bad habits and leading a healthier lifestyle. The initial phases after the resolution can be extremely stressful for everyone, those making the resolutions and colleagues and loved ones as well. The primary reason for the stress of the latter can be attributed to the mood swings and behavioral changes of people under pressure to keep those resolutions. The following are few of the popular New Year’s resolutions that can be stressful. Also, included are ways to deal with the stress associated with them and tips to stick to them no matter what:

Giving up tobacco

Being a former counselor to individuals who quit smoking, I can reiterate that the early days after quitting can be extremely stressful. Nicotine withdrawal is the most common effect of quitting tobacco in all its forms. This effect has varying degrees of intensity across individuals. The stress of altering the lifestyle only compounds to the stress. The majority of people take to tobacco and smoking as a coping strategy to deal with stressful events. People take to tobacco to elevate the mood. Therefore, when individuals quit smoking, the stress only increases as they do not have any backup strategy. Hence, having a couple of stress busters as a backup can come handy when dealing with withdrawal symptoms and relapse. This should ensure a better success rate and additionally less stress for others as well.

Losing weight

Weight loss programs are one of the most popular resolutions for the New Year. Getting in shape can do wonders for the health. It has large social repercussions as well. Experimenting with new diets can give a sense of deprivation of your favorite foods and snacks. It can also lead to mood disorders due to the biological changes. People who eat certain foods to deal with stress are left wanting for a coping strategy. Therefore, the initial days of change in the diet can be extremely frustrating and stressful. It is not just the new ‘eater’ who undergoes stress. Those eating with them too undergo stress as they too have to make alterations.

A Perfectionist attitude toward Resolutions

The traditional way of setting a New Year resolution can be stressing. The high goals set and the means to attain them can put undue stress. There is tremendous pressure to maintain those goals.

The primary reason for resolutions being stressful is that old habits are hard to break overnight. Resolutions will have their share of follies and the higher the intensity of the resolution, the more likely it is that the individual will commit mistakes. A resolution such as “I will quit smoking from today” is not only unrealistic but also bordering on impossibility.

When faced with the failure of their resolutions, people tend to lose hope. Therefore, all subsequent resolutions become quests for perfectionism, adding to the stress.

Taking small and steady steps, rewarding yourself, and a few alterations will create a better chance of success and less stress. Making resolutions on New Year’s Eve is a healthy habit and must not be stressful.

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