New Year, Be You!
Posted
Updated September 08, 2025
Raise a hand if your New Year resolutions often include the word “less”. Less carbs, less drinking, less ice cream, lose x amount of weight, less Netflix, etc. If almost every single item on your list is about less, what does that say about your outlook on your life? Even if you're not a fan of New Year resolutions, you probably feel some pressure to reset on January 1. I know I do. In fact, I quite look forward to it. But throughout the years, I’ve changed my approach to how I set myself up for these changes. In the past, I would often take the approach of ‘less’. Unsurprisingly, my success rates weren’t very high. And I’d always feel this underlying sense of failure. It wasn't until recently that I started realizing how unrealistic and unnecessary some of my expectations were; so I decided to switch it up. I started becoming more open-minded and inviting more into my life instead of less. I read a quote on Instagram once that said...
“Those extra 5-10 pounds, that place where your body naturally wants to be - that's your life.
That’s your late night pizza with your man, that Sunday morning bottomless brunch, your favourite cupcake in the whole entire world because you wanted to treat yourself.
Those 5-10 pounds are your favourite memories, your unforgettable trips, your celebrations of life.
Those extra 5-10 pounds are your spontaneity, your freedom, your love.”
...it couldn't be more fitting. Why do we so definitively want to lose things that bring joy to our lives? Doesn’t it make more sense to work on moderation so that we can still enjoy these things once in a while?
Shift your mindset
Instead of focusing on what you want to lose this new year, how about you shift your mindset and think about what you want to GAIN. Want to you want to invite more of into your life? Create a list that reflects the abundance you want to see. More healthy plant based foods, more reading, more music, more money for travel, more compassion for yourself, more time for creative outlets. Destroy the illusion of perfection that holds us back from creating new possibilities. Fall in love with yourself and your life, one day at a time.
Rethinking "less stress"
For myself personally, I want to work on my stress levels, and work towards regulating my cortisol hormone. Instead of quitting all the things that bring stress into my life, I want to learn how to manage them better. Some stress is necessary and can actually be good for us (do yourself a favour and read Kelly McGonigal’s “The Upside of Stress”). Work is sometimes, often times, stressful for me. But I need to be realistic - I need to work, so that I can pay my bills and live the lifestyle that I want to be able to live. And sometimes, often times, I genuinely enjoy the work I do. Instead of throwing in the towel, I’ve started taking 225 mg of L-Theanine everyday. L-Theanine promotes relaxation without sedation. It is a non-essential amino acid that is not common in the diet. In fact, the only dietary source of L-Theanine is found in green tea. It is one of the main active ingredients in green tea, alongside caffeine and green tea catechins. It reduces the perception of stress and may also help with sleep. Organika’s line also includes Enhanced Collagen Relax, a collagen powder that includes magnesium and L-theanine. I put a scoop of that in my morning shake, or stir it into my coffee. Lastly, a drop of chlorophyll to help detox in my shake and I am ready to take on the day!
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