New Year, Same You
By Maya Juchtman
A letter to myself and other neurodivergent humans like me.
It’s December 31st which means new lofty goals that you hope to accomplish and then beat yourself up about after? Not this year.
I challenge you to do two things:
1) Forgive yourself for 2021
2) Don’t put yourself down in 2022
As a fellow human with ADHD, I get it. Year after year I tell myself “this year I’ll do yoga every day, I’ll journal, I’ll be financially responsible” and every time I felt disappointed in myself for once more, not being able to achieve these goals from the previous year. It’s difficult to keep up with resolutions and that’s because new years resolutions were made for neurotypical-minded people. It’s not fair to expect us to just suddenly be able to do something we weren’t able to before.
Set yourself up for success this year by changing how you look at the new year. Sure you can set goals, but do so in a way that your mind can actually process them. Let’s start with my own:
Change “Workout Every Day” to “Be Better To My Body”:
This does mean incorporating more movement into my daily routine, but that can be longer walks with my dog, going out dancing with friends, and taking stretching breaks while working. This also means prioritizing sleep and eating more colorful foods that make me feel good.
Change “Journal Every Day” to “Find More Time For Myself”
Whenever I would try to make myself journal, it felt forced and I would stop mid-entry. So instead I’m going to set myself up with a few things I like to do and see what I gravitate towards each day. Somedays it’ll be journaling, others it will be painting or reading. This time is meant to be about connecting with myself, so I should let it flow towards whatever makes me happiest.
Change “Be Financially Responsible” to “Be More Financially Aware”
I’ve created so many January budget spreadsheets over the years that the very idea of another budget riddles me with anxiety. Knowing I’m not doing a good job would then make me just completely avoid looking at my finances. This year instead of a budget, I’m going to strive to just be aware. Just the simple act of desensitizing myself and holding no judgment when it comes to my finances is the goal. I’ll do this by looking at my accounts at least once a week, just looking, no tracking and no shame spirals involved.
Other than resolutions, this year I’m starting with pride. I’m proud of my career growth in the last year, for my patience growing via having a dog, and for my compassion for myself and those around me. What are you proud of yourself for this past year? How are you going to continue doing these things in the new year?
And if you’re having a hard time finding something to be proud of yourself for this past year, please know that we are proud of you! You’re here! You read this whole blog post in an effort to improve and that’s awesome. You found yourself here because you do care for yourself and/or others that are neurodivergent.
