Chloe Wickman, founder of Zeenya
New Year resolutions may be made with good intentions, but they can also be fraught with pressure, guilt, and a layer of reluctance. Founder of Zeenya activewear Chloe Wickman shares some thoughts on overhauling New Year resolutions.
It’s time to make New Year Resolutions that inspire, celebrate, make us feel good and, most importantly, aren’t out the window by the end of January.
I want to look back and say I didn’t waste my life on controlling my body. I want to say that I cared for it, moved it joyfully and dressed it in ways that feel good.
2023 is almost upon us. This time of year is a weird one – we’re busy being festive, working hard to be positive about the year ahead while sometimes being swept up in the emotions of the past (good, sad, regretful, or otherwise). It’s always a bit topsy-turvy as many of us work/live the blur of holidays between eating leftover Christmas ham and not knowing what day of the week it is. For those of us still working during this time, it can be tough when it feels like everyone else we see is relaxing and partying (thanks social media).
But one thing we all get with the arrival of a fresh year is opportunity. A chance to reflect on the past and set goals or resolutions for the year ahead. We’re all pretty aware of how quickly our New Year’s resolutions go out the window. Honestly, I think I can count on one hand the number of people who have stuck to their goal by the end of January alone.
Why is it that we put all this pressure on ourselves to be a totally new human just because of a date? In the health and fitness industry, it’s a ripe time for picking on people’s insecurities, reminding them that they’ll be more loveable and accepted if they lose weight or attempt to look like they did 10 years ago, or worse, 20.
I’m all for people looking after themselves, moving our bodies in ways that feel good, eating things that make us feel nourished and well, but this overwhelming desire to look younger or be the size we were 20, 10, or even five years ago is ridiculous.
What I’d love is for us to focus on what it takes to truly look after ourselves no matter what our body looks like. Because healthy is different for every single one of us. So, the next time you see an ad that says it’s changing everyone’s lives by doing whatever fad diet or hard-core exercise regime, please just stop and remember that there’s no singular magic way to change all bodies.
One thing I’m working on coming to terms with is that ageing is coming for us all, and our bodies will continue to change with this privilege because the alternative to ageing is death. True story.
With ageing intentionally in mind, my goals are shifting. I’m no longer going to hold myself to restrictions that make me feel bad about myself. Instead of taking things away, I’m going to focus on adding exciting and joyful things to my life. So that if I get the opportunity to still be here in 20, 30, 40 plus years’ time, I can say that I didn’t waste my life on controlling my body. I want to say that I cared for it, moved it joyfully, and dressed it in ways that feel good.
How is that shaping up in the present moment? Well, I’ve decided that for 2023 I’m going to set myself three goals (not resolutions but only ‘cos I despise that word).
Goal #1 will be something audacious. Something I’m almost too scared to write down, gets the anticipation going, and the heart pumping just to think about it. This year for me, it’ll be something physical (‘cos this gal loves a challenge).
Goal #2 will be a goal that allows me to give back to others. A way for me to connect with new people or a community different from my own. Why? Because proximity brings connection, and we can learn so much from people who have different life experiences from our own.
Goal #3 will be focused on a daily habit – something that adds to my life rather than restricting it. Like adding meditation or a sunrise walk, something I can do as often as possible on a regular basis.
My hope is these three things will hopefully make me a better person at the end of the year than I was at the start. More open-minded, more excited for the future, and with new friends. Even if none of these go exactly to plan, I’m confident I’ll learn something new.
Perhaps 2023 will be a year that at the end of my life I get the chance to look back at fondly, maybe it will be one that was tougher than expected. At this stage who knows? Resolutions that are focused on shrinking myself no longer serve me, and if you’re feeling the same way, let’s change this together.
About Chloe Wickman
Seven years ago, on a trip to Brazil, Chloe Wickman noticed the overwhelming explosion of body positivity and vibrancy that saw all shapes and sizes embrace colour and celebration. Wanting to capture the joy and confidence of the multi-coloured clothing she had experienced, Chloe started Zeenya Clothing. If you’ve stood on the start line of any trail run or major ultramarathon in the last few years in Aotearoa, you will have seen many women rocking Zeenya tights.
Even more recently, the brand has experienced a huge lift thanks to the enthusiasm of the Zeenya community, ambassadors, and ongoing expansion of both its NZ Made Core range and Brazilian Made Sports ranges through bright seasonal collections.
When you get off a phone call to Chloe, you can’t help but feel happy and inspired. The phenomenal Kiwi woman behind the growing New Zealand activewear brand, which is proving increasingly popular among colour enthusiasts, has a special something about her that just exudes happiness.
As the owner and founder of Zeenya Clothing, her official title is ‘Head of Colour’ and it couldn’t be better chosen. Thirty-six-year-old Chloe is bright, fun, vibrant, and it’s immediately clear why women all over New Zealand immediately love her brand as soon as they find it – it’s meeting a demand for vivacious colour wearers everywhere and it’s a market that was largely uncatered for eight years ago when Chloe launched her brand.
With a background in sports, Chloe is also a passionate trail runner. Before launching Zeenya, she spent seven years specialising in the field of disability sport as the Executive Officer of Parafed Waikato and Bay of Plenty, and she also volunteered at the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
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