What were your New Year's resolutions? What has your progress been like?

[Mixo]

Did you have any New Year's resolutions for 2022? What's your progress been like on them?

It's normal for resolutions to fall by the wayside by the time February or March rolls around, so I don't necessarily take resolutions too seriously - not to mention for many of us here, just trying to stay alive is already quite overwhelming. I just decided to do the best I could on them since they were problems that were ruining my life (and still are to some degree). I had only three goals and told myself I'd try to get as far as I could - not for the sake of resolutions, but to raise quality of life.

1. Try to recover from two debilitating infections - I managed to eradicate one and am in the process of clearing the second one.
2. Try to save a little money - kind of failing in this area, although I've been doing my best to generate money.
3. Try not to CTB this year - well I guess I'm still here, despite convos about me in the user discussion megathread.

Pretty please save responses like "There is no point. I just want to die", "Resolutions are useless and pointless" - I'm sure most of us feel this way, but asking for an air of productivity on this thread.

 

[Foresight]

I wish you the absolute best in clearing that infection. I know it'll come through for you. I had a bunch of resolutions this year. I'm slowly making progress. I think my mistake over the years was thinking an epic change would happen overnight and not giving credit to the slow progress.

The one I'm doing the best with is getting fit. I'm working out consistently and gaining strength. I do dance videos to warm up that are so much fun and then strength train. I have another goal of being able to do front splits and I'm stretching often. Feels amazing.

 

[lili]

I'm sorry you are struggling. I Hope you can recover from your infections and meet the rest of your resolutions.

I had three resolutions : watch a movie every day, not see a certain person and get a therapist.

I think I started the year with some bad habits. Feel I still haven't figured out a way to focus or handle the issues that I really need to, for instance one of my resolutions being trivial stuff like watching a movie every day. Granted there is value to doing something you enjoy every day, but by not tackling the bad habits I had before maybe that's why this one fell through?

The second one, it's the existencial rhetorical question of why fall in love with those we shouldn't and why do we keep going back? My resolution was to stop interacting with this person, but fell into the same stuff again. And got really hurt.

I think the failure of some of my resolutions stems from not being fully self aware of what the real problem is quite yet and I keep chasing other matters that are completely pointless when it comes to tackling the main reason as to why I have so many problems.

At least I was able to get a therapist this week, although I am still suspect about that working because I've done it so many times in the last ten years.

 

[Lullaby]

I remember being really frustrated, talking to my dad and telling him I was fed up with the quality of my life. I told him I wanted this year to be different.

My plans laid out:

1. Stop working jobs and actually try to get into a career. Something that I would enjoy doing and be able live comfortably with.

2. Lose weight. My psychiatrist put me on this medication to help with my sleeping and it made me gain an insane amount of weight in a short time. I went from 127 lbs to 210lbs in about 3 months. It really impacted my self-esteem tremendously.

So far, I've been following through. I'm attending a dog grooming academy next month, and after I finish they'll place me at a salon, so I'll officially be a dog groomer before the summer.

I've also lost over 30 lbs in the last couple of months. Everything has been taking lots of discipline but I'm proving to myself that I can do things I normally thought I couldn't.

 

[onlyanimalsaregood]

I had hoped and wished that 2022 would be better than 2021 and at that time and in January I was finally truly happy but then it all ended, as usual.

 

[Mixo]

I remember being really frustrated, talking to my dad and telling him I was fed up with the quality of my life. I told him I wanted this year to be different.

My plans laid out:

1. Stop working jobs and actually try to get into a career. Something that I would enjoy doing and be able live comfortably with.

2. Lose weight. My psychiatrist put me on this medication to help with my sleeping and it made me gain an insane amount of weight in a short time. I went from 127 lbs to 210lbs in about 3 months. It really impacted my self-esteem tremendously.

So far, I've been following through. I'm attending a dog grooming academy next month, and after I finish they'll place me at a salon, so I'll officially be a dog groomer before the summer.

I've also lost over 30 lbs in the last couple of months. Everything has been taking lots of discipline but I'm proving to myself that I can do things I normally thought I couldn't.

Honestly it sounds like you're kicking ass! New job prospect/skills and weight loss? These are major accomplishments.

I wish you the absolute best in clearing that infection. I know it'll come through for you. I had a bunch of resolutions this year. I'm slowly making progress. I think my mistake over the years was thinking an epic change would happen overnight and not giving credit to the slow progress.

The one I'm doing the best with is getting fit. I'm working out consistently and gaining strength. I do dance videos to warm up that are so much fun and then strength train. I have another goal of being able to do front splits and I'm stretching often. Feels amazing.

Maybe not having firm expectations out of yourself while still committing to action is the key? Cultivating a sense of self-respect as opposed to shame seems to be working for me, I suspect it may for others too. Congrats on your physical changes, that is super exciting. :) And thanks for the good wishes regarding my current treatment. It hasn't been easy everyday but I am definitely making progress.

 

[Marktheghost]

I'd completely forgotten about my new year's resolution. I think I made one. I've probably broken it. I'll need to remind myself what it was.

 

[Britvik]

To give up alcohol for one month, then to keep my consumption below medical guidelines thereafter.

I didn't drink any alcohol for 6 weeks and I haven't had more than the weekly recommended amount since. I feel much better. Fewer problems with my digestive system. Fewer mood swings. Zero hangovers, obviously! It has been a relief to prove to myself I don't need alcohol. I still enjoy an occasional G & T though

 

[Depressed Cat]

I'm sorry to hear you're suffering from bad infections. I wish you the best in getting rid of them.

I went through a severely depressive episode in December and January (I badly wanted to CTB & even obtained SN), so new year resolutions were the last thing on my mind.

I was put on a multi-drug course of anti-depressants by my psychiatrist and they made me gain back some of the weight that I had managed to lose with a strict diet and some exercise. I didn't make a resolution, but I wanted to lose the weight I was putting on.

The meds did help in my recovery from severe depression and I have stopped taking them despite the doc wanting me to continue some. I haven't lost the weight I gained, but I've stopped putting on weight after I discontinued the meds.

 

[Mixo]

To give up alcohol for one month, then to keep my consumption below medical guidelines thereafter.

I didn't drink any alcohol for 6 weeks and I haven't had more than the weekly recommended amount since. I feel much better. Fewer problems with my digestive system. Fewer mood swings. Zero hangovers, obviously! It has been a relief to prove to myself I don't need alcohol. I still enjoy an occasional G & T though

I think the clinical term for that is harm reduction. I'm glad you found an approach that is realistic and works for you.