A Gentle Entrance into 2026

The start of a new year is often framed as a time for reinvention. Messages about becoming “better,” “more disciplined,” or “finally fixing yourself” are everywhere, especially when it comes to food, bodies, productivity, and mental health. For many people, this pressure doesn’t feel motivating at all. It feels heavy, shame-filled, and exhausting.

As a mental health practice, we want to offer a different invitation for the new year: you do not need to become someone new in order to be worthy of care, rest, or healing.

You Are Not a Problem to Be Solved

So much of New Year messaging implies that who you are right now isn’t enough. Diet culture tells us our bodies need to be controlled. Hustle culture tells us rest must be earned. Certain religious or moral frameworks teach that suffering is virtuous and that wanting ease, pleasure, or autonomy is somehow wrong.

If you’ve internalized these messages, it makes sense that January feels activating. You may notice increased anxiety, urges to restrict or “start over,” harsh self-talk, or a sense that you’re already behind.

Let’s be clear: your nervous system, your body, and your coping strategies all developed for a reason. They are not evidence of failure. They are evidence of survival.

For Those Healing from Eating Disorders

The new year can be especially loud for anyone in eating disorder recovery, or even just questioning their relationship with food and body. Diets are re-branded as “lifestyles.” Restriction is marketed as “wellness.” Control is praised as willpower.

Healing does not move in neat, calendar-year increments. Recovery doesn’t reset on January 1st. And choosing not to diet is not “giving up.” It’s often an act of deep resistance and self-trust.

Instead of asking: How can I control my body this year?

You might gently explore:

• How can I listen to my body more consistently?

• What helps me feel safer around food?

• What kind of support do I need right now?

These questions invite compassion rather than compliance.

Anxiety, Depression, and the Pressure to Feel Better

New Year culture often pushes positivity and productivity, which can be isolating for those living with anxiety or depression. If getting through the day already takes most of your energy, being told to “set big goals” can feel invalidating.

Mental health is not about forcing yourself into constant happiness. Sometimes growth looks like:

• learning to rest without guilt

• noticing your emotions without judging them

• staying when you want to numb, flee, or shut down

• asking for help instead of pushing through

These shifts may not photograph well for social media, but they matter deeply.

A Different Kind of Intention Setting

If resolutions feel triggering or unattainable, instead consider values-based intentions rooted in care, not self-punishment.

Some examples:

• This year, I will practice responding to myself with curiosity instead of criticism.

• I will prioritize nourishment...physically, emotionally, and relationally.

• I will notice when shame shows up and remind myself that I am not broken.

• I will seek support when things feel heavy instead of carrying them alone.

Intentions are not rules. They are gentle directions you can return to when you need grounding.

You Don't Have to Do This Alone

Healing (whether from disordered eating, anxiety, depression, trauma, or something else) is not something you’re meant to navigate in isolation. Support can look like therapy, nutrition counseling, community, rest, and/or simply allowing yourself to move at a pace that honors your nervous system.

If the new year feels overwhelming, that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It means you’re human. As we move forward, our hope is that this year brings you less pressure to perform and more permission to be. Less fixing. More listening. Less shame. More care.

You are allowed to begin again... not as a project, but as a person worthy of compassion, exactly as you are.

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If you're struggling, reach out to a mental health therapist. You can also find support through organizations like The Alliance for Eating Disorders, or talk to your doctor about your mental health concerns. You are worthy of getting support.