Do you get nervous when someone mentions your New Year’s resolution? Does the thought of dry January make you sweat? You may be suffering from “old words”.
It’s rare to go into the New Year without a question. What’s your new year’s resolution?
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what are you giving up Which fitness program will you start? How are you losing weight for Christmas?
It’s no wonder that the moment you wake up on New Year’s Day, you feel a lot of pressure to make big lifestyle changes.
Change can often improve your health, but for some people, your New Year’s resolutions can actually make your health worse.
Millions of Britons make a resolution each year, but YouGov statistics show that only a quarter (26%) of those who make a New Year’s resolution keep it is.
Health is at the top of the aspiration list, with ‘exercise more’ and ‘improve fitness’ top the aspiration list (53%) and ‘lose weight’ (48%) is the second most popular It is an aspiration, followed by “improve”. diet” (39%).
However, these high-pressure, major lifestyle-change solutions can be of great help with stress and anxiety.
Dr. Alex George, former Love Islander and mental health campaigner, says New Year’s anxiety is a very real condition that many people may not realize they’re experiencing. says.
he said:
“Anxiety is often caused by feeling overwhelmed, out of control, or fear of the unknown.
“As we head into the new year, we are surrounded by messages like: ‘You need to change’, ‘You need to limit’, ‘You need to exercise’.
“Our brain wants us to be safe and comfortable, so the thought of making a big, scary change reacts with stress and fear.
“Changes can also cause the brain to release the stress hormone cortisol, triggering our ‘fight or flight’ response.
“Fight or flight is our brain’s physiological response to anything that stresses or fears, and activates the sympathetic nervous system, which makes us feel tense and anxious.
“Given the pressures we put on ourselves in the new year and all the things we think others expect of us, it’s quite normal to experience anxiety as a result.”
Do you find yourself struggling with New Year’s anxiety? Here, Dr. Alex details what causes it, why it’s bad for your health, and how to avoid it…
we solve without thinking
Dr. Alex said:[At] When the new year hits, people suddenly want a six-pack or think that they should go on a diet to lose weight.
“Some people may absolutely want to achieve these things, but there are many who do not.
“In other months, we won’t be told that we need to decide what major changes to make, but we feel that it is expected in January.
Instead of stopping and thinking, “Do I need or want to change anything in my life right now?” increase.
“Not only does this make us feel uneasy about our changes, but it also makes us terrified of the coming months because we know we’ll have to live while giving up on what we love.”
we fear failure
Dr. Alex said:
“Most of the resolutions we choose for the new year, such as quitting certain foods or embarking on a demanding new exercise routine, aren’t things we perceive as easy.
“We know these resolutions will challenge us and it’s making us nervous.
“We start worrying about where to start, how hard it will be, and whether we can achieve what we are trying to do.
“The big difference between New Year’s resolutions and decisions to make changes at other times of the year is that we usually tell people what our resolutions are and put extra pressure on them not to fail. It is that
We compare our solutions with those of other people
Dr. Alex said:
“January is flooded with ad campaigns, social media posts, and friends telling us what others are doing to ‘be better’.
“This comparison can lead to anxiety because we worry that others will judge us and our efforts.”
too dramatic a change
Dr. Alex said:
“If you choose to change your lifestyle at other times of the year, it usually doesn’t change after a full month of heavy drinking, but that’s exactly what happens after Christmas.
“The January blues are a very real one. Depression levels in the UK rise dramatically in January, largely due to a post-peak ‘fall’ over the Christmas period.
“We are no longer surrounded by friends and family. After spending Christmas, we have less money and ‘nothing to look forward to.'” Add to this the restrictions that New Year’s resolutions bring, and as a result, anxiety. “
Why is New Year’s anxiety bad for our health?
Dr. Alex said:
“But anxiety doesn’t just make us nervous and uncomfortable, it can have a huge impact on our health.
“Long-term anxiety sees our brain constantly releasing stress hormones, putting our body and mind in a constant state of stress.
“While this can lead to mild symptoms such as headaches, sweating and dizziness, there are many larger long-term problems such as:
How to Avoid New Year’s Anxiety
Dr. Alex said: [pressure around] However, there are many things you can do to keep New Year’s anxiety at bay.
self-reflection
“Before you make a decision, stop and ask yourself: Am I happy? Will this change make me happier?
“If the answer is ‘Yes, I want to make these changes and I’m making them for me,’ that’s great.
“But if you really can’t answer why you chose that decision, probably don’t.
“Don’t change because of it, change because you truly believe it will benefit you.
don’t compare
“The new year is not the time to compare your diet and fitness challenges to others, it’s the time to do it yourself.
“If you stop comparing yourself to others, not only will you feel less insecure, you’ll be much more likely to enjoy the changes you’re making, and you’ll be more likely to succeed.
“Stop following social media that doesn’t make you feel good on New Year’s Day.”
make smaller
“I often feel the pressure of having to make a big statement with a big challenging resolution, but the smaller and more manageable the resolution is, the less overwhelming I feel.
“Leave your fears and set yourself up for success by choosing exciting and achievable solutions.
“Steps is a great place to start. Get a FitBit smartwatch and set a daily step goal.
“This is far less scary than joining a gym or trying to run a marathon, but it has an incredible impact on your health.
get support
“New Year’s resolutions don’t have to be detached or intimidating, especially when you’re open to help and support from others.
“Talk to experts, use apps and technology to help you, join online, or join in person with a community of people who are on the same path as you.
“Making a change with others who are on a journey similar to yours can be a great support and make everything more enjoyable.”
Dr. Alex George is a Fitbit ambassador who helps raise awareness of the psychological and physiological impact of this time of year on our health and well-being.
