No Resolutions, Just Boundaries: A New Year’s Shift
I stopped making New Year’s resolutions a few years ago. They always felt like a performance, a list of promises I knew I’d struggle to keep by mid-February. Eat healthier. Wake up earlier. Write more. They sounded great in theory, but they always left me feeling like I wasn’t enough. Like I had to be more, do more.
But this year, I’m not interested in chasing some idealized version of myself. I’m interested in protecting the version of me that already exists. Instead of resolutions, I’m focusing on boundaries.
Here’s the thing about boundaries: they’re not about shutting people out or building walls. They’re about creating space for myself. They’re about saying, “This is where I end, and you begin.” Boundaries allow me to show up in the world with more clarity and intention—not depleted, but whole.
In the past, I’ve said “yes” to things I didn’t want to do because I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. I’ve stretched myself thin trying to meet everyone else’s expectations, leaving no time or energy for my own goals. Sound familiar?
But I’ve learned that boundaries are an act of self-care. They’re a way of saying, “I matter too.” They help me define what I need to thrive, whether that’s time, space, or emotional energy. And when I honor my boundaries, I’m teaching others to honor them too.
This year, I’m choosing to:
• Protect my time. Not every request deserves a “yes.” Sometimes the most productive thing I can do is rest.
• Guard my creativity. If something drains my energy or stifles my imagination, it’s a no. This includes doom-scrolling, overcommitting, and saying “yes” to projects that don’t align with my values.
• Listen to my intuition. When something feels off, I’m learning to trust that instinct. Boundaries don’t always have to be explained because “no” is a complete sentence.
We’re only 3 days into 2025, and I’ve already pissed some people off, so believe me when I tell you setting boundaries isn’t always comfortable. People may not understand or agree. That’s okay. Boundaries aren’t about controlling other people; they’re about controlling how I respond.
When I feel resistance—either from myself or others—I remind myself why I’m doing this. I’m not setting boundaries to push people away; I’m setting them to protect what matters most: my marriage, my family time, my energy, my creativity, my peace.
If you’re tired of the pressure to reinvent yourself every January, I invite you to join me in this shift. Instead of resolving to do more this year, let’s resolve to be more intentional. To honor what we need. To protect the parts of ourselves that make us who we are.
No resolutions. Just boundaries.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s enough.
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