So I really fucked up my new year’s resolutions this year. This does not make me a bad person but I allowed the whole New Year, New Me routine to derail me from my plan to be 3 stars out of 5. Not the constant yo-yo-ing between 5 stars and worm.

I had decided that because some things had gone well last year therefore in 2025 I was going to really lean into that and basically be a Goddess in the Gym (I was calling it ‘stepping into my feminine power’), as well as a Titan of Industry from my home desk. Oh, and eat slightly more jacket potatoes. As it stands the eat more jacket potatoes resolution is the only one with any chance of sticking. Last year’s only resolution was to wear more fake tan and I really did manage that so I should have taken a leaf out of last year’s book and find something achievable and of relative unimportance.

Of course now that I have written all of this down I can see the problem straight off. I mean, my resolution wasn’t actually to be a Goddess, and my heart was in the right place with this. I decided that part of my ongoing problem was not recognising when I had done good things, being unconfident often, not patting myself on the back for effort, not feeling a sense of achievement. I had proved to myself that I could handle really quite extreme stress in 2024 so I thought that it was time to recognise it.

So 2025 would be about being comfortable being confident. Not only carry on trying to perform in work or gym or home at all times but also be 100% confident about myself also. No pressure then.

Mistake…. big mistake….Almost before the conceptual ink was dry on my resolution to Always Be and Feel Amazing suddenly I felt like a loser…I was making my happiness conditional on feeling 100% confident at all times.

Here’s why it sucks so badly for those of us who have to continually manage themselves to be rational and reasonable to come up with these resolutions:

It’s not possible for us to be confident All Of The Time. In fact, in saying it to myself I was immediately setting myself up to fail. The only thing we can guarantee to be at all times is actually Worthwhile Fallible humans. That I will always be, as we all are.

So, I am having to re-write my resolutions ( or let’s call them preferences, not quite the same ring to it I agree).

Here they are:

1. Try to do good quality work and help our business be profitable
2. Try and get stronger legs and bum
3. Eat more jacket potatoes

I feel a fuck of a lot better now. This is where REBT (Rational Emotional Behavioural Therapy) has really helped me, when I remember to do it.

Hopefully your resolutions were either non-existent or more reasonable than mine.

I would also be lying if I didn’t admit to having other gym-based goals (preferences) regarding building muscle, looking good, having strong lifts etc. but I have concluded that these things have no place anywhere near being a resolution. I will just carry on enjoying my training and the result of that will be what it will be.

And to finish here’s a photo I took of myself in a gym before Christmas when I was feeling 4 stars out of 5.