We’re closing in on the new year. Tonight, in the last moments of 2020, the countdown will begin.
Five.
Counting down.
Four.
Maybe it’s a chant with your circle of people. Maybe it’s a thought in your head.
Three.
One step closer to the new year.
Two.
Maybe you’ll be waking up just in time for the celebration.
One.
Maybe you’re hoping for a fresh start.
Welcome to 2021.
Maybe you won’t be part of the countdown at all. But here we’ll all be there: a part of the new year.
Maybe there’s a weight to do better. Be better. Especially after a year that’s been overwhelmingly challenging.
For people with body-focused repetitive behaviours, the new year can mean a new pledge to try harder to stop picking, pulling, or biting. The fresh start feels like a fresh opportunity to conquer these disorders.
Whether your goal is to stop your BFRB, reduce the impact of the behaviour, or accept it, our advice to you is ultimately to be kind to yourself. The enthusiasm and newness can give you 
strength and confidence, but it’s okay if that doesn’t last. It’s okay if you stumble. It’s okay if you have to change your strategy partway through.
It’s okay to not have perfection. Perfection isn’t mandatory.
If you’ve been struggling for a long time, having a solid foothold on these disorders can be the goal and any slip can feel like doom. It’s okay to feel that way: to feel the pain, the frustration, the sadness, the anger, and everything else. It makes you human and it shows it’s important to you.
As we move into 2021, here’s advice on how to go about your BFRB New Year’s goals.
- Small goals are still goals. New Year’s resolutions can often be grandiose efforts to make a complete change, but it’s okay to have smaller goals.
- Be gentle with your goals. The kneejerk reaction might be to set firm goals, otherwise it’s not a real effort. That’s not the case. Think about where you are now and what might be something you can accomplish on a smaller or less restrictive scale.
- Make changes as you go. Goals don’t have to have permanence; they can change and evolve to fit your situation and your mindset.
- Be honest with yourself. Be honest with what you’re capable of, how you’re doing, and what you want to accomplish. This means less stress worrying about editing the narrative to make things fit into a perfect bubble.
- Lean on your support network. In person or online, the people who are in your corner with you are fantastic resources. Whether you need some motivation or someone to vent to, these people can help.
At the Canadian BFRB Support Network, our wish for you is that you have a wonderful year despite any challenges that may arise. We’re here with you. Let’s welcome in the new year together.
—