Choosing Recovery Over Resolutions

Author: Cindy Binions B.A. ICF

As the new year approaches, many people find themselves surrounded by messages about “starting fresh”, often through changes to eating and exercise. These messages are often framed as healthy or motivating, but they are deeply rooted in diet culture and the idea that our bodies need constant fixing. For individuals in eating disorder recovery, this time of year can be especially challenging. What is marketed as self-improvement can quickly become a trigger for restriction, rigidity and self-criticism.

From a recovery-focused and clinical perspective, many traditional New Year’s resolutions can do more harm than good. Resolutions centred on food rules, weight or exercise goals often rely on perfection and control, patterns that closely mirror eating disorder behaviours. When these goals inevitably become unsustainable, they can increase feelings of failure and shame, making recovery feel harder rather than more supported.

Recovery is not about doing more or trying harder. It is about learning to listen to your body, rebuilding trust and creating a life that is not dominated by food and body rules. This is why stepping away from lofty or rigid resolutions can be an important act of self-care. If you are considering change, taking time to reflect on what genuinely supports your recovery is key.

Movement, for example, does not need to look a certain way to be “valid.” While some people enjoy structured exercise, others may find that gentle, intuitive movement, or even rest, better supports their healing. There is no single right way to engage in activity. What matters most is whether it feels respectful, flexible and aligned with your recovery and values.

Rather than asking, “what should I change about myself this year?” it may be more helpful to ask, “what kind of life do I want to build as I recover?” Recovery is about reclaiming joy, connection and meaning. Clarifying your values, such as relationships, creativity, learning or emotional well-being, can also help guide small, sustainable choices that support healing over time.

Every day is an opportunity to choose recovery, even when that choice feels quiet or imperfect. This new year, you might consider choosing values-based living over resolutions, self-compassion over self-control, and long-term healing over short-term pressure.