2026 is here, and while many people will tell you that New Year's resolutions are pointless and you won't keep up with them, I will tell you why you should. The new year is an opportunity for you to design the life you want, reflect on the previous year's wins and losses, and decide for yourself what you want to manifest. There have been years where my new year opened up doors for me that I never thought possible, and years where I struggled tremendously - in both circumstances, my attitude, choices, and consistency were a direct result of the outcomes. As you approach the new year, I'm not here to tell you what you should consider for 2026; I'm suggesting what you should do away with to build a life rooted in what's best for your well-being. The rest is up to you.People Who Tell You Don't Set New Year's ResolutionsIs it just me, or are people who tell you that setting New Year's resolutions is pointless just not my kind of people? Am I saying that you should set unrealistic goals for yourself? Absolutely not, but there is something to be said about being intentional. You cannot create anything great without being specific and dedicated. Stay the course even if you're the only one in your immediate circle who sticks with their resolution goals. To keep yourself motivated, make small goals instead of focusing on the larger goal ahead of staying dedicated all year.Diets That Aren't SustainableMaking lifestyle changes can be difficult, especially when they're unsustainable. Fad diets can lead to weight gain and worse outcomes, like binge eating. Deciding to assess your eating habits and make changes to fuel your body and take care of your temple is a beautiful decision, but it should be made with your long-term goals and lifestyle in mind. Instead of focusing on restriction, focus on implementing whole foods into your diet and cutting back on processed foods and, more importantly, foods that don't agree with your body. Our bodies are constantly speaking to us; we just have to listen.Misaligned RelationshipsDon't start the new year pouring into dead-end relationships. Often, when friendships, relationships, and even business relationships are close to their expiration date, we delay deciding to move on out of fear of the unknown, but what does it serve you to stay in any relationship that's expired? Make space for what's coming by, and ask yourself if the relationships that are holding space in your life are a reflection of what you desire in 2026.Movement That Isn't Rooted in JoyWhat's your relationship with movement? Is it something you do just for weight loss? Is it based on the workouts you were told would garner a specific result? Exercise isn't just crucial for our bodies; it's needed for our minds as well. There are studies that show the correlation between exercise and the release of trauma stored in our bodies, but that exercise should be rooted in a workout routine that you can enjoy.Much like your diet should be sustainable, your exercise regimen of choice should be as well. So ignore the TikTok trends, and try out a bunch of different exercise machines and classes if you can. Develop a workout routine focused on exercises that excite and challenge you.Unhealthy Coping MechanismsEven if you have the year wins, challenges and adversity will come. For every high, there will be a low, and that's not to say that you should anticipate pain and loss; it's to prepare yourself for how to respond in a healthy way to shifts in life that you didn't expect. On those days, do all you can to stay away from overeating, alcohol, and any other unhealthy ways that you would usually lean on to cope; develop a list of healthy coping tools that you can turn to.This year will be your best year if you are intentional. I believe in you, and I cannot wait to see all that lies ahead of us in the coming year.Featured image by ShutterstockOriginally published on January 2, 2024