By Courtney Montgomery, SBJ Columnist

It’s that time again…the time to make all the resolutions! A time to reflect on this past
year, and a time to look forward to what is to come. We are a few weeks in and you may
already be down on yourself for not fulfilling your resolutions. Let me encourage you as your
mind begins to race with thoughts of how you can do better and be better this year:

1. While New Year’s resolutions are a good way to better yourself and reach for new goals,
setting too many goals or trying to attain a lot of change all at once is not practical and will
make you feel as though you have failed. Instead of having the goal of not missing a single
day at the gym for the next month, try setting a goal of going a few times a week if you
aren’t already. Or, instead of having the goal of wiping your pantry clean and only eating
healthy foods “starting tomorrow”, aim to add a fruit and/or vegetable to your day each day.

2. You will be tempted to try every fad diet out there and your brain will get clouded with
whether to “eat this” or “don’t ever eat that”. Stop and ask yourself if those diets are
sustainable for you and whether that diet will dampen your relationship with food or create
shame when you eat something you were told you shouldn’t have.

3. There are many fitness “challenges” offered for the first few months of the year. While
these are a fun way to get moving and get stronger, don’t be upset or feel you have failed if
you miss a day or several. Exercise because you enjoy it and if you don’t enjoy it, don’t set a
goal to exercise every day! It’s okay to start small, and work your way up. Find a friend or try
a fitness class that can become your community. Then exercise will be fun and you do it
because it brings you joy. The strength and endurance that is sure to come with it will be an
added bonus.

4. Give yourself grace. When you need to rest, rest. When you don’t run as far as you wanted
to that day, be grateful you ran at all. When you eat that dessert and want to shame yourself,
praise yourself for something healthy you ate that day. Be thankful each and every day for a
body that can move. A body you can fuel and take care of. A body that carries you everyday
to do the tasks God sets out before you.

Happy New Year, friends! Here’s to a new year like never before: one that promotes healthy
habits, yes. But done in a way that will create joy, not shame, victory, not defeat, and
community, not isolation. Cheers to a wonderful 2024!