By Therapists

New Year’s resolutions often come with high hopes and a desire for self-improvement. Even though the intent is positive, the process can have many downsides, especially for mental health. We all know there’s more to changing habits than making plans about it. The all-or-nothing thinking, not acknowledging the grieving of the loss of habits that are there for a reason, and the responses to our own failures can be detrimental to our mental health and can be major blocks when wanting to change something in our lives.

Here are some key ways they might negatively affect our well-being:

Unrealistic Expectations that Lead to Disappointment

Many resolutions are set with big ambitions—losing a large amount of weight, drastically changing habits, or achieving major milestones in a short time. When progress doesn’t come as quickly or smoothly as hoped, it can lead to feelings of failure, frustration, and decreased self-esteem.

Mental Health Impact: Constantly feeling like you’re not measuring up can fuel anxiety and depressive thoughts.

Pressure to Be Perfect

Resolutions can create a rigid mindset where there’s no room for flexibility. Missing a workout, slipping up on a diet, or not meeting a goal by a specific date may feel like a complete failure.

Mental …