To have had the most unproductive year last year?

[TrierGirl]

Last year was the most unproductive I’ve ever been. I was full of good intentions on New Years Day it couldn’t stick to a diet and didn’t get anything constructive done at all apart from the basics.

AIBU to want 2026 to be as constructive as possible in contrast with last year?

If you do, then I'd suggest spending some time figuring out why last year didn't work out for you.
I generally avoid NY resolutions. If I want to do something (go to the gym, start a diet) I just start whenever a thought occurs. Random Thursday is perfectly fine. Diet can start from the very next meal. Waiting for a Monday or a special day of the year just derails the whole thing from the start.

Thank you - Yes I agree self reflection is good

I slightly disagree with you though in the sense that I think that losing weight and getting fit can actually be VERY hard at the best of times - I find if you start on January 1st you’re really motivated to stick to it - whereas if you start mid year you’re less motivated

in 2024 I started a strict diet / exercise program on Jan 1st and went on to lose 4 stone by mid May!

But it didn’t motivate you last year? So it doesn’t always work. You need to set realistic goals. Most people try too much of an all or nothing approach which sets them up for failure. The stats on diets in Jan rarely go in the favour of losing weight! I would reframe the goals to help make them more realistic, rather than losing weight being the goal I would focus on making healthy changes, if you succeed in those, you should lose weight.

Everyone puts too much pressure on themselves to be better/ good etc in new year and attempt to change lots of things all at once. Recipe for disaster. Setting yourself up for failure.
If you want to make changes to health/diet/lifestyle, make a list of wgat you feel needs changed. Then decide which one of those is a priority. For eg, drinking more water, adding more protein to meals, moving more.

Say you go with the water.
If you arent even managing 1L daily start there. Thats approx 2 pints. Aim for that over the day.

Or say you go wirh protein. Pick 1 meal of the day to focus on. Breakfast is a good time to add in as sets you up for the day. Focus on adding more protein to that one meal each day
Make it as easy as possible to do it. Do just that 1 thing. Give it a couple of weeks of violent consistency, then add something else. Focus on adding in rather than taking away/restricting. Much easier to do it.

I start with small things, things that waste my time and stop me doing the bigger things.

Getting through all the basics is an achievement.

Maybe you needed a rest last year?

I felt rather the same - but a kind relative said I should think of it as a sabbatical.

I'm having a rest from trying to be a thinner/fitter/more present/self improving batch cooking frugal goddess. It's exhausting. If I want to eat Jaffa cakes and swig gin at 4am in my knickers whilst buying half of ASOS I'm going to.

🤣🤣

I like this thinking !!

I found the total opposite. I have never stuck to a January diet or exercise plan. I started in May last year. Now I run three times a week.