Rethinking New Year’s Resolutions for Eating Disorder Recovery

As we approach the new year, we begin to see the goals people have set out for themselves for the year to come. New Year’s resolutions can be a way for individuals to improve themselves, but for individuals with eating disorders,these messages can do more harm than good. Goals focused on food or weight can bring about a lot of negative repercussions, fueling feelings of guilt and all-or-nothing thinking that can be especially harmful for those who struggle with eating disorders and disordered eating.

This year, let’s shift the focus away from resolutions focused on restriction and control and instead towards resolutions that help to support individuals on their eating disorder recovery journey, no matter where they are.

Be kind to yourself

Recovery can bring up a lot of complicated feelings and emotions, and it is not uncommon to feel self-critical along this journey. Being kind to yourself means recognizing when you are being self-critical and instead choosing to be more understanding and gentler towards yourself. Acknowledging an eating disorder and working towards recovery is so incredibly courageous, and it’s essential to give yourself some grace.

Don’t pressure yourself to be perfect; everybody’s ed recovery journey looks different, and your experiences are valid.

Prioritize nourishing yourself

​Nourishing yourself can take many forms, including caring for both your body and mind. Staying in tune with your body’s cues and responding with care can help to support you during recovery. Whether this means eating when you feel hungry or listening to your mental cues signalling that you need to rest. Nourishment plays a vital role in supporting one’s recovery, so responding to your needs with care, rather than feeling guilty or ashamed, is an important step to take.

Learn how to ask for help

Asking for help can be a difficult and vulnerable experience, especially when it involves sharing your personal experiences and struggles with others. However, you deserve to feel supported, and asking for help doesn’t make you weak. Reaching out to individuals you can trust, whether that be family, friends, or professionals, is an important skill to have that can help make recovery more manageable.

Set boundaries

Setting boundaries can feel uncomfortable at first, and youmight feel unsure about how to set them or feel like you can’t speak up about them. It is important to recognize when you might need to set boundaries for your own well-being, and you should be able to do so without feeling guilty. Whether this means limiting exposure to certain creators on social media or stepping away from conversations that make you feel uncomfortable, your needs and feelings matter.

Remember recovery is not always linear

Recovery does not follow a straight path, there are going to be ups and downs, times that feel like setbacks, and moments of progress, all of this is an important part of the recovery journey. The challenges and obstacles do not take away from all of the growth you have made, rather they reflect your ongoing journey and showcase your learning and resilience to continue forward.

​So, as we step into the new year, remember that recovery is personal, and everybody’s journey looks different. Resolutions focused on food and weight can be very harmful, whereas focusing on intentions that prioritize your own well-being can help to support you on your eating disorder recovery journey. No matter where you are in your journey, every effort towards being kind to yourself, nourishing yourself, and seeking support is worth celebrating.