Setting New Year’s resolutions is a great opportunity to focus on self-care, community, and achieving personal milestones. Here are a few New Year’s Resolution tips and ideas.
MENTAL WELLNESS & SELF-AFFIRMATION
Focus on resolutions that center on self-worth and healing from stigma or internalized shame.
Find an LGBTQ+-Affirming Therapist: Resolve to prioritize your mental health by seeking out a professional who is explicitly affirming and understands queer and trans experiences.
Practice Identity Affirmation: Dedicate time each week to celebrating your identity. This could be through journaling, trying new forms of gender expression, or spending time with people who use your correct pronouns without effort.
Confront Internalized Shame: Resolve to name and discuss feelings of shame or self-judgment related to your identity, perhaps in a support group or with your chosen family, to foster healing.
Set and Enforce Boundaries: Practice saying “no” to interactions, conversations, or family members that are non-affirming, exhausting, or that drain your emotional resources. Your peace is a priority.
COMMUNITY & CONNECTION
Focus on reducing isolation by strengthening bonds within the queer community.
Build Your Chosen Family: Resolve to actively cultivate new, meaningful relationships. This could involve hosting regular “unplugged” get-togethers, or setting a goal to meet one new queer friend each month.
Show Up in Person: Commit to regularly attending events at your local LGBTQ+ community center, joining a queer sports league (like the Sin City Classic!), or visiting LGBTQ-owned sober spaces.
Center Community Care: Resolve to regularly check in on your queer friends. Send a thoughtful text or email to someone who is struggling, or schedule simple quality time to make sure those around you feel seen and connected.
Cultivate Intersectional Allyship: If you are cisgender or white, resolve to educate yourself on the specific struggles of trans people, Black queer people, or other marginalized groups within the community. Commit to action beyond just words.
FINANCIAL & LEGAL SECURITY
Focus on securing your future and protecting your loved ones, especially chosen family.
Create Essential Legal Documents: If you have a partner or chosen family, resolve to establish legal protections. This includes drafting Wills, Trusts, and Healthcare Directives to ensure your wishes are honored and your loved ones are protected, regardless of marital status or state laws.
Budget for Identity Needs: If applicable, set a specific savings goal for gender-affirming care (medical or social), legal name changes, or other costs associated with your transition or identity.
Support Queer-Owned Businesses: Resolve to intentionally shift a percentage of your spending to support local queer- and trans-owned businesses.
Consult an LGBTQ+-Affirming Advisor: Set a goal to find a financial or legal advisor who specializes in or is deeply familiar with the unique financial and legal landscape for queer couples and individuals.
EDUCATION & ACTIVISM
Focus on learning, advocacy, and protecting the community’s progress.
Become a Knowledgeable Advocate: Resolve to learn more about LGBTQ+ history, especially local history. Follow queer journalists, scholars, and advocates to stay educated on current policy fights.
Commit to Consistent Advocacy: This doesn’t have to be grand—it could mean signing a petition once a month, donating a small, set amount to an LGBTQ+ organization, or committing to be a reliable voter in local elections.
Be a Vocal Ally: Resolve to speak up when you encounter transphobia or homophobia, even when a queer person is not present. Being willing to have uncomfortable conversations is essential to real allyship.
