10 New Year’s Resolutions I Absolutely Refuse to Make in 2026

There will be no “New Year, New Me” mantra for me in January. No aesthetic overhaul. No wellness Olympics planned. No measurements or weights were taken for later comparison. No good intentions at all. I have decided that I will not have constant construction as a renovation project in 2026.

The new well-being is not constant repairing, but constant caring. Sympathy. Joy. Appreciation for what currently exists, even as intentional changes continue to unfold.

This is of course difficult. The world continues to scream faster, faster, better and MORE MORE MORE. But I can slow down, pay attention and decide not to listen. Not today.

The past few years have been a time of refining, unlearning and getting better for myself and many of us. Don’t arrive. Do not repair. Just exist within the process instead of being solely focused on the destination and ignoring life.

With that in mind, here are the New Year’s resolutions I’m definitely NOT going to make.

10 New Year’s Resolutions to Avoid in 2026

Improvement cannot be the only destination.

1. I’m not going to do cold dips

My nervous system already receives plenty of exposure therapy in daily life. I don’t need to recreate the sinking of the Titanic before breakfast. Furthermore, most cold diving research focuses on men. Women respond differently to exposure to extreme cold. Shocking, I know, another area where women’s health is understudied and misunderstood. But if hypothermia is your hobby, then leave. I stay inside and stay warm under three blankets. And wearing woolen socks.

2. I won’t force myself to drink something green that tastes like lawn care

If it doesn’t bring me joy, it won’t last into the new year. It is entirely possible to be healthy and enjoy what you consume! Health and pleasure are not opposites.

3. I can’t get a full body red light panel

Mainly because what does it actually do?! Every wellness article claims something different: collagen, mitochondria, mood, metabolism. That said, I’m eyeing the face mask because I’m a middle-aged woman who has decided that I’m okay with trying to make my face look 20 again.

4. I’m not going to meditate for an hour a day

What me shall doing is my usual (and completely doable) 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the evening. Long enough to regulate my nervous system. Short enough not to ruin my relationship with meditation. Realistic enough not to create any shame for a few days in January.

5. I won’t train every day like I do training for an Ironman

My actual resolution? Exercise every day in a way that feels good. Walking counts. Stretching counts. Unhinged kitchen dancing while cooking certainly counts.

6. I won’t cut out gluten or add the latest superfood just to appease someone else’s idea of ​​a wellness doctrine

I eat the way that feels good for my body, my mood, my season. Anyone who wants to debate this can bring it up with their own gut microbiome. I’m finally done eating based on trends. Instead, I eat for myself.

7. I’m not going to biohack myself (well, not too much)

I’m not turning my life into a science experiment. I support my body in the normal ways: sleep, food, exercise, setting boundaries and minding my own business. But because I’m a Virgo, I’m allowed to use one spreadsheet.

8. I will not buy new biomonitoring technology

No Oura ring. Not a Whoop band. Not a $300 widget telling me I didn’t sleep well when I woke up knowing it. The spreadsheet is filled the old way: pausing, noticing my mood, and asking myself what I need.

9. I will not manifest without action

Yes, I’ll find my vibe. Yes, I will protect my energy. But I also take the steps, send the emails and move things forward. Manifestation works best when combined with movement, although I do wish I could visualize my new kitchen and slide it into place.

10. I’m not going to reinvent myself into a Pinterest-perfect version of a yogi or perform wellness for the internet

No aesthetic overhaul. If it fuels me, I will do it. If it only exists to look good online, I’ll skip it. I will show up as my real, sometimes messy self, because lived, imperfect well-being is the norm, not polished performance. This year is about living well, not curating well.

Your turn. What habits, trends or expectations will you leave behind in 2026?