We have all been there—the "New Year, New You!" mentality can be exciting. But why is it that every year we think we need to be a new person? The answer is: we don't.

As we move into the second month of the year, many of us are reevaluating our over-ambitious resolutions and may feel we can't keep up. But it's important to remind yourself that it's okay to be the person from the previous year! The new year does present a new chapter in our books, but it doesn't mean we have to change everything about ourselves.

Instead, think about what things you did successfully that you may want to keep doing! Maybe you were able to walk a little more this past year; or were able to go somewhere new or even somewhere you hadn't been in a while and visit with friends and family. All of these are accomplishments; celebrate them and, most importantly, keep it up! 

If there are areas that you would like to aim to improve, that is great, too. You don't feel that you need to set "big goals" that may not be feasible given current life circumstances. In fact, setting little intentions or habits can be more impactful and you are more likely to succeed by doing so. Think about small things that may make life easier: going to sleep 10 to 15 minutes earlier, putting your phone down during mealtimes, getting up one time during the workday to walk around. All these things can have a big impact on your health and well-being. 

So, if you are looking to make a change, think of one daily habit that you may be able to tweak/adapt, as opposed to trying to change everything all at once! And hopefully, when it comes time to turn the page to 2024, you will feel less pressure to have a brand new you but will instead go into 2024 with a healthy perspective and a healthy body!