Why the Holidays Aren’t Ideal for Resolutions and What to Do Instead

The holiday season may be the worst time of the year to decide to undertake resolutions, and here’s why:

For many of us, the holidays are a time when we are off balance and out of sorts due to a wide variety of circumstances (e.g., visiting family, travel), expectations (our own or those imposed by others), additional year-end work and family obligations, etc. Whether good, bad, or neutral, these all contribute to our “allostatic load,” or cumulative burden of life stress.

Taking on the additional stress and demands of making life changes under these circumstances can make sticking with resolutions unnecessarily difficult. Why not wait a few weeks for the dust to settle before launching into that new routine, or start well in advance of the holiday chaos? 

If you find yourself already lapsing on your vows to exercise, eat differently, manage your stress, and so forth in 2024, consider waiting a couple of weeks and having a fresh start when life has settled down.

One resolution that I do encourage everyone to consider is being kinder to themselves in 2024. What would it feel like to treat yourself with the kindness you show to your closest friends and loved ones? That may mean waiting to start or stop habits until stress levels have returned to normal.