Redefining the Year 2026: Inner Growth, Navigating the Year, and Back-to-School Support
As the new year unfolds and we try to to settle into 2026, it’s easy to feel pressure from from friends, family, social media, or even our own expectations to reinvent ourselves, get “back on track,” or completely transform our bodies. For those recovering from an eating disorder, struggling with body image, or simply wanting to support their mental health, these messages can be overwhelming, unhelpful, and even harmful.
This year, instead of chasing external perfection, let’s focus on the kind of growth that lasts: inner growth, self-compassion, and realistic goal-setting.
The Pressure of Unrealistic Goals
New Year’s resolutions often focus on visible change — a slimmer body, a new diet, or an intensive fitness routine. This approach is rooted in the idea that transformation must be external and immediate. This can reinforce diet culture, heighten body dissatisfaction, and even exacerbate disordered eating behaviours.
For many, the “perfect new year” mindset can create stress, self-criticism, and feelings of inadequacy. It’s important to recognise that growth doesn’t happen overnight and that true change comes from within.
Shifting Focus to Inner Growth
Instead of obsessing over external change, consider focusing on personal development:
Cultivating self-compassion and patience with yourself
Building emotional resilience and coping strategies
Strengthening relationships with friends, family, and your support network
Nurturing skills and hobbies that bring meaning and joy
Even when growth isn’t immediately visible, it still matters. As we move into the year, small, intentional choices can help support a steadier, more grounded way of moving through the months ahead.
Practical Tips for a Grounded Year
Set realistic, meaningful goals rather than striving for perfection.
Reflect on what matters to you beyond appearance — skills, relationships, personal well-being.
Practice self-compassion and gentle self-check-ins throughout the year.
Reject harmful diet culture messages, social media is not a measure of success.
Encourage open conversations about body image, self-worth, and mental health.
As these values and practices begin to take shape, the return to school can bring its own set of pressures, particularly for students navigating academic expectations, social dynamics, and body image. It’s important to acknowledge how this transition can impact mental wellbeing.
Navigating the School Year as a Student
For students returning to school, there can be a mix of excitement and anxiety as you navigate friendships, learning, and body image. You may feel pressure to fit in, perform well, or look a certain way, and that’s normal. Recognising these feelings is the first step in managing them.
Everyone’s school experience is different, and stepping into a space with so many personalities and unique creative energies can feel overwhelming. In these moments, it can help to stay connected to your own values. Tuning into what truly matters to you, whether that’s learning, connection, creativity, or self-growth, gives you a guide for making choices that feel right for you, not based on comparison or external expectations.
Supportive relationships are also key. Surround yourself with friends, teachers, or mentors you can trust, be honest with, and rely on for encouragement. Pausing to notice small achievements and leaning on these relationships can help reduce the weight of social pressures and make the school year feel more manageable.
Navigating the School Year as a Parent or Carer
Alongside students, parents and carers are also adjusting to the rhythms and emotional shifts that come with a new school year.
Watching a child return to school can bring pride, excitement, and worry all at once. You may notice their stress, or feel unsure how to support them without adding pressure. One meaningful way to help is by listening with curiosity rather than fixing; ask how they’re feeling, validate their experiences, and offer guidance gently when needed.
Modelling self-compassion yourself also teaches them it’s okay to make mistakes and they can prioritise their wellbeing. Remember that your presence, patience, and openness are often the support they need most.
Whether you’re stepping into a new school year, supporting a young person through change, or focusing on your own growth, this season can bring both opportunity and pressure. Taking a step back to reflect on what truly matters can help ground these transitions in care rather than expectation. By prioritising inner growth over unrealistic expectations, we create a foundation for mental wellbeing that lasts far beyond January.
With love,
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