Every January, we’re bombarded with the same messages: “New Year, New You!” “Lose weight!” “Work out! “Get organized!” “Do more!”
If these messages make you want to take a nap, you’re not alone.
Keeping New Year’s resolutions is challenging for everyone, but for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses they can feel positively discouraging. New Year’s resolutions like the ones above assume that everyone starts the year with the same financial resources, the same energy level, and the same control over their minds and bodies. That’s just not the case.
So, this year, why not rethink resolutions? That doesn’t mean giving up on growth and self-actualization. It means choosing a definition of growth that works for you—one grounded in self-care, flexibility and realistic expectations.
When we live with disability and illness, life can be unpredictable. There may be stops and starts, days when we feel good, and days when we have to rest. Progress isn’t always easy to see, and we don’t always move forward on the timeline we prefer. Sometimes, progress can be seen in learning to ask for help or giving yourself permission to take all the time you need to recover from a medical or emotional setback.
The New Year can be a chance to build on what’s already working for you. Instead of asking, “What will I change?” you might ask, “What has helped me get through hard times—and how can I do more of that?” Maybe it’s trying a routine that brings peace, a relationship that offers understanding, or a boundary that protects physical or emotional health.
Rethinking resolutions can mean small adjustments that make daily life a little easier or giving yourself permission to try a new hobby. Letting go of unrealistic resolutions can actually make room for others that may serve you better. Instead of measuring yourself against standards that don’t take disability or illness into account, start appreciating how far you’ve already come. Where can you go from here?
Rethinking the New Year can also mean trusting yourself more. Trusting that you know your body better than any fitness or diet trend. Trusting that rest is not a failure, but an investment. Trusting that you are allowed to move at a pace that keeps you well.
This year doesn’t have to be about becoming someone new. It can be about deepening your relationship with who you already are.
