Most New Year's resolutions related to fitness stall by January 19, according to research from Strava. Some people even endearingly call it "Quitter's Day." But that doesn't mean all hope is lost for 2022. In fact, saying good riddance to improbable resolutions—and introducing positive affirmations—could be the best thing you do this year.
"People set themselves up with unrealistic expectations and goals. When they aren't able to achieve those goals, they feel like they've failed," said Jillian Lampert, Ph.D., chief strategy officer at The Emily Program, a national eating disorder treatment program. "Affirmations could be a way to counter that disappointment and find more meaningful and sustainable ways to be in a relationship with yourself."
To help replace resolutions this year, we interviewed body positivity experts like Lampert, author Joy Cox, and leaders of Amazon's Body Positive Peers group to gather their favorite tips and affirmations. Lampert and Cox have worked with the Body Positive Peers affinity group in their efforts to help Amazon fight weight discrimination and embrace and support bodies of all sizes and abilities.
"Research out of Yale University shows that prevalence of size discrimination increased by 66% in the 2000s, comparable to rates of racial discrimination," said Shilpa Vadodaria, an executive on the Body Positive Peers board and a senior manager in U.S. Sales Strategy and Operations at Amazon. "These adverse effects intensify around the New Year as societal pressure to make weight-loss resolutions becomes ubiquitous."
If you're ready to swap your resolutions for affirmations in the New Year, here are six ideas.
"People set themselves up with unrealistic expectations and goals. When they aren't able to achieve those goals, they feel like they've failed," said Jillian Lampert, Ph.D., chief strategy officer at The Emily Program, a national eating disorder treatment program. "Affirmations could be a way to counter that disappointment and find more meaningful and sustainable ways to be in a relationship with yourself."
To help replace resolutions this year, we interviewed body positivity experts like Lampert, author Joy Cox, and leaders of Amazon's Body Positive Peers group to gather their favorite tips and affirmations. Lampert and Cox have worked with the Body Positive Peers affinity group in their efforts to help Amazon fight weight discrimination and embrace and support bodies of all sizes and abilities.
Amazon has 13 affinity groups, also known as employee resource groups, which bring Amazon employees together across businesses and locations around the world. Some examples include the Black Employee Network (BEN), Amazon Women in Engineering (AWE), and Indigenous at Amazon.
Meet the wellness experts and Amazon's Body Positive Peers
If you're ready to swap your resolutions for affirmations in the New Year, here are six ideas.