The New Year always seems wrapped up in hype, pressure, and expectation — and honestly, I could do without it. Everywhere you look, people are talking about resolutions — losing weight, exercising more, giving up chocolate 😱. And I can’t even begin to explain how I feel when I hear that old chestnut: “New Year, New You.”
I Want to Celebrate the New Year Without Any Pressure
In my world — one of living with pain — I don’t want the pressure that the New Year brings. I don’t want to make promises to myself that I know I won’t be able to keep. (And I’m certainly not giving up chocolate!)
Maybe, instead of resolutions, the new year could be a time for reflection. A time to focus on ourselves — not to fix or change who we are, but to support the life we already have. And that probably starts with being kinder to ourselves.
Be Kind to Yourself
It’s easy to say that, isn’t it? But it’s not always easy to do.
We live in a world full of pressure, and when you live with pain or a chronic health condition, it can feel even heavier. Expectations — from others and from ourselves — can weigh us down.
So perhaps, in 2026, you could try to lighten that load. Ditch any guilt you’re holding onto and give yourself permission to be kind to yourself.
Make Choices — Without Guilt
It’s okay to say no sometimes. In fact, it’s essential — and to do so without guilt. But it’s equally important to say yes when you want to.
Listen to Your Body
Sometimes you need to take time for yourself. Listen to your body and give it what it needs. Learning to pace yourself and resting when necessary isn’t weakness; it’s self-care.
Do Whatever Brings You Joy
It’s so important to do things that make you happy, whether that’s spending time with loved ones, reading, or working on a hobby. Joy can offer a brief escape from the world of pain or illness — and even if that escape only lasts a short while, it can bring a little light into your life.
Celebrate the Victories
Victories for those of us living with chronic pain or chronic illness often look very different from those celebrated by healthier people. They might complete a 10K marathon, while we feel triumphant if we manage to put on our own socks.
Our victories can be simple but deeply meaningful: staying awake long enough to read a few pages of a book, getting a good night’s sleep, brushing our teeth, chatting with a friend, or spending fifteen minutes on a hobby.
These small moments matter far more than we often realise — so celebrate them.
Ditch the Pressure This New Year — Just Be Kind to Yourself
This year, there’s no need for grand resolutions or overwhelming goals. Instead, focus on gentle self-care, small victories, and moments of comfort that truly make a difference in your daily life. Celebrate the tiny steps — reading a few pages, taking a short walk, or simply pausing to breathe — as these are the building blocks of a kinder, more manageable year.
When we are kind to ourselves, we can flourish. Small changes can ripple out and create a real difference in how we feel.
Progress isn’t about perfection; it’s about noticing, honouring, and nurturing the things that help you feel a little better each day. Let this year be filled with care, compassion, and kindness — especially towards yourself.
Wishing you all a peaceful, gentle start to 2026. May the new year bring better health, brighter days, and moments that make you smile.
Thank you so much for reading.
If this post resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
And feel free to share it with your friends or support groups.
Take care,
Liz.
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🔔 Wishing you a very happy new year 🔔
I’d love a New Me. If only they sold one in Tesco!
I can’t fathom anyone wanting to give up Chocolate for the new year. That’s the only thing I look forward to on a daily basis 😆
I really like this idea. Being kind to ourselves isn’t easy, so many people seem to struggle with it. And yet if we were, we might be able to manage our issues a little better sometimes, we might feel less guilt, might get more rest, might find a little more joy where possible. That might just be the best resolution we could ever aim for.
Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year, Liz! I hope 2026 is kind to you, and that you can likewise be kinder to yourself xxxx
I imagine Tesco would sell out quickly! I wonder if they’d give clubcard holders a special deal. 😂
I agree it’s not easy to be kind to ourselves. I often write about empathy and the need to show kindness to others, but, very often, we ignore our own needs.
I hope that 2026 is a better year for you Caz. Take care of yourself xx
You’re right, it’s very different applying good advice to ourselves.
A Clubcard deal – that made me chuckle! If only…! 😆
Thanks so much for this, Liz. There is so much focus on being good to others, i.e., the Golden Rule, and not enough on being kind to ourselves. In fact, as someone who lives with chronic illness, chronic pain, and disability — all of which are different, as you well know — I can be very hard on myself, Particularly about the latter. I have been recently visibly disabled and I’m still dealing with the embarrassment of being on a walker. It kills me because in my mind, I’m not that person! And then I beat myself up about it. I will have to place little Post-it notes around my apartment reminding me to treat myself at least half as well as I would someone else!
Aaaw…I’m sorry you deal with all that. It really is difficult sometimes to be as kind to ourselves as we would be to others. Try not to be embarrassed about using your walker. Think of it ain the same way as wearing a pair of glasses to see better — you wouldn’t give yourself a hard time for that. Your walker is allowing you to have more freedom and independence probably, so try to ditch those negative thoughts about it. Yes, Post-it notes are a great idea. Cover your house with them.
Thanks so much for commenting. Wishing you the best for 2026.