Breaking Up with the Monday Fresh Start

No matter when it is—the start of the new year, another Monday rolling around, the first of the month—if you’ve been a dieter chances are you know that fresh start feeling. It can look like over-researching workout plans online, a frenzied clearing out of any “bad” foods from your house, and often engaging in a last supper binge. Does this sound familiar:

• You start out full steam ahead, laser-focussed on your new regime and positive that this is the time it will all click.
• Then you start to have cravings and life gets busy (not according to plan!) and you white knuckle through it, feeling deprived and frustrated.
• Then you “fall off the wagon” and beat yourself up for not being able to stick to your new habits.

This might be the loop you have been in for years

Of course, goal setting isn’t bad—I highly recommend setting them with self-compassion—it is the all-or-nothing motivation, the inner critic, that makes setting (and reaching) realistic goals difficult.

What if the goal is instead to break up with this restrict-binge-restrict cycle?

Instead of waiting for the next Monday or fresh start feeling, try looking at how in this very moment you can choose the next small step that feels good to you. This can ask you to be present and curious, for example: Have I had some water today? Do I need to get away from my desk? Is this conversation helpful? The key is what feels good to you in that moment, not what the online plan outlines, or that social media post, or your mom’s advice.

This approach can feel challenging at first, especially if you are an emotional eater because you’ve used food to numb or quiet this inner consultation. But it isn’t impossible! Start small: the next time you feel hungry, ask yourself what you want to eat right at that moment. Listening to your cravings can help you feel much more satisfied with your meals and lead to fewer binges (a helpful tip: Find Out What Foods Make You Feel Satisfied!).

Taking life (and food!) one moment at a time can help you take steps forward without the overwhelm to plan every aspect or overhaul your life. You don’t have to wait for Monday or the new month, you can start right now, start small, tune in to yourself. Before long you’ll realize it’s been a few days since you binged or you’ve consistently moved your body over a week. Don’t underestimate the power of a small step!

💛 Your peace awaits.