Dear Dahlings!

Yes, it’s yours truly back from her blogging hiatus, and so much has happened since we last spoke! I’m thrilled to announce that I am now officially a content writer for a wonderful company called Sekond Skin, which promotes overall body positivity and great mental health through their yoga and mindfulness classes via their app, catering to all body types and levels of mobility and impairments. The best part? They are even working towards creating a yoga certification specifically aimed at people with various disabilities to help them qualify as yoga instructors! Personally, I think it’s amazing that we now have a space where the able-bodied and disabled communities can come together, bridge the gap, and experience positive exercise—possibly for the first time in their lives. I also love that all body types are reflected in each class; what I mean by this is that the instructors are just like the pupils, with various levels of mobility and different impairments. I truly believe that seeing yourself reflected back in exercise classes fosters confidence and overall body positivity. It shows that it can be done, and it will be done.

If you’re interested in finding out more about Sekond Skin Society, please click here to try their classes today! You know me; this blog is all about honesty, and I wouldn’t promote a product or company if I didn’t think it worked! Since starting the yoga and mindfulness classes, I actually look forward to fitness now. Thanks to the range of bodies in the classes and the lovely open community they have, I finally found a space where I don’t feel judged for my level of mobility.

In this month’s first installment of the newsletter, we are going to tackle the toxic idea of the “New Year, New You” mentality and discuss how to set realistic resolutions and stick to them. If you found this blog post through the community at Sekond Skin, I’ll also share a little about myself and my overall fitness and mental health journey.

If you like what I have to say, please feel free to stick around and subscribe via email on the homepage to have my wonderful posts emailed directly to you. Why not check out some of my other content while you’re here? This blog is all about my life with a disability, my voice, and finally doing things my way (with a hint of sass and sarcasm!).

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Why The “New Year, New Me” Mentality is Toxic and How to Properly Set Manageable New Year’s Resolutions

Dearest readers,

Happy New Year and welcome to 2026! Today marks my first monthly newsletter at Sekond Skin, written by yours truly! But before we get down to business and I explain my mission behind these letters, I thought it best to introduce myself and start us off on the right foot. My name is Raimie Jeffery, and I am a twenty-seven-year-old disabled writer and content creator from South Wales. I have Cerebral Palsy and am a full-time wheelchair user. I run the Instagram @Disableddahling and a blog (which is in desperate need of an update) under the same name.

I generally write about life as a disabled woman with a particular penchant for fashion, film, and books. My blog has evolved since 2022 and now serves as my platform for showcasing prevalent issues in the disabled community while promoting open and honest conversations about mental health and body positivity.

I think that’s enough about me for now—after all, a friendship isn’t built in one newsletter! I want you to open your email each month and look forward to reading my nuggets of wisdom. I want you to feel like you have a friend in me because, after all, Sekond Skin is about fostering connections with people while promoting a healthy body and a positive mind—it’s all connected! Wellness isn’t just about the physical aspects, you know!

I discovered Sekond Skin in late May this year while trying to find an integrated wellness program that catered to disabled individuals with various degrees of mobility, without separating able-bodied and disabled individuals into different camps. My view is that ultimately we’re all sharing the human experience in the same society. While I acknowledge that people have varying perspectives, we’re not that different.

At the end of the day, we’re all learning to treat our bodies with respect so that we can continue living long and fulfilling lives. I won’t say that after your first few classes, your life will drastically change; ultimately, this journey to body acceptance takes time. As your body begins to adjust, so will your mindset. Think of Sekond Skin classes as a form of self-care—a time to focus on you and your well-being, even if it’s just an hour a week.

I have been taking the yoga and meditation classes for six months now, and they’ve become a vital part of maintaining my health, just like my medication. Honestly, they’ve made me feel better about myself. Even though there isn’t a vast difference physically for me, I feel centered and calm, which puts me in a great mood and mindset for the rest of the day, making me more productive.

The teachers are incredibly supportive, and it’s lovely to see instructors who mirror my own body in terms of shape, size, and disability. Sekond Skin and its community have unlocked something in me; it’s a place where I feel like I belong in terms of wellness.

Growing up, physical education was sorely lacking for me as a disabled person, especially as a teenager, which left me feeling inadequate. The lack of adaptation and inclusivity resulted in a lot of internalized ableism and negative feelings about my own body. Physical education in school was torture for me; by treating me like everyone else, it made me feel like I stuck out like a sore thumb. What able-bodied people, particularly educators in the early 2010s, don’t realize is that some situations require accommodations rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Growing up, that wasn’t encouraged or suggested.

With Sekond Skin, it’s the opposite; I finally feel like I can ask for help and have programs altered to fit my body and its limitations. Sekond Skin recognizes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to exercise and wellness; the idea of equality instead of adaptation is abandoned here. I finally feel comfortable in a room full of people with bodies that match my own as well as mindsets.

Over the years, I have battled with body dysmorphia and severe mental health issues, but that hasn’t stopped me from trying to thrive in my position. Instead of wanting to change things or make my disability go away to make others comfortable, I’ve tried to make myself comfortable with it, which is why I started blogging again.

After a few months, my blog became a space where I could provide others with insights into my health battles, hoping it would help them. I focused on disabled women in particular because I realized there was no dedicated space to discuss women’s health issues—both disabled and able-bodied—where we could connect. Mainstream media often caters to the able-bodied gaze, so when one of my fans met Lee Anne, she suggested I branch out and write for everyone after my own success with the program. Given that our ethos matched in terms of our separate ventures, it was a win-win, and I jumped at the chance (although not literally!).

With the scene set and the backstory spun, let’s finally dive into today’s topic: why the whole “New Year, New Me” movement is harmful to both able-bodied and disabled fitness individuals alike.

I may or may not be a Grinch here, but I disagree that just because it’s January and a new year has passed, we need to change ourselves in the name of resolutions to fit into the small boxes society loves to put us in. To understand why, I need to be open and honest: when I was 15, I had just started antidepressants in January 2025 after my mental health breakdown in September. Honestly, I didn’t want to be disabled anymore. Why would I want to when I was constantly told that my body and mind were worthless? I remember being told to be more positive and to set resolutions, but how could I do that when the biggest aspect of all seemed like a trip up Kilimanjaro? Along with my struggles, there was also exam pressure, January blues, and a general blanket of bleakness shrouding me at every opportunity. That is until I started therapy, where I realized that this whole rhetoric was harmful considering I couldn’t change my body or circumstances. My therapist told me that I would never be able to change who I am; I can only improve myself with small changes, not big ones that feel insurmountable.

Did you know that January is the most challenging month for people with mental health issues? Did you know that over 70% of disabled people feel feelings of loneliness and isolation during the holidays? That’s a massive number when you consider that many places aren’t accessible, festive activities aren’t inclusive, and support networks are temporarily disbanded. So, let’s not add the harmful “New Year, New Me” rhetoric on top, shall we?

A huge part of my healing process was accepting that my disability and its challenges are a part of me; it’s something I have to learn to live with and be proud of. It doesn’t matter what society says, and I certainly shouldn’t change myself for the comfort of others.

As I’ve said before, January can seem bleak and anxiety-inducing at the best of times. Hopefully, we can all learn to accept each other and show a little kindness.

Instead, let’s think about giving ourselves a monthly goal. Together, we’re going to promise not to overwhelm ourselves and not to fill our plates to the brim, leaving space for the events of the year ahead. We need to break down our resolutions into small, achievable goals, and then it becomes a plan for how we can succeed. As a society, we must remember that New Year’s resolutions are about our own advancement and learning, and that growth mindset is essential. For example, my resolution is to recognize that I am not in control of people’s reactions; sometimes, their reactions aren’t a reflection of how they feel about me but rather how they respond to the situation. This year, I’m trying to be kinder to myself and ease the anxiety I feel. My plan is to continue with my weekly meditation and yoga classes and keep a daily journal to monitor my anxiety and triggers. It’s not about reaching a specific weight or achieving x, y, or z; I see that as more of a to-do list than a resolution. When sitting down to write your resolutions, get introspective, and instead of just listing common changes that society thinks you should make, ask yourself these questions:

• How does this resolution serve me and me alone?
• Where does the need to create this resolution come from? Is it a pattern of behavior you’ve noticed?
• Does it stem from a knee-jerk response to a comment or an event?
• How will achieving this resolution improve your life and aid in your personal development?

To be honest, I could use some more goal-setting inspiration, so what do you say, folks? Fancy giving your girly here some ideas? I’d love to hear about any plans you’re making for this year, even if it’s the smallest thing like going for a daily walk, to big things like conquering your fear of airplanes and going on holiday, and all the little bits in between. I believe that if we’re going to conquer our goals this year, we need to stick together and motivate each other. If you think there’s something I could improve on resolution-wise, please let me know in the comments; it’s a two-way street. I’m by no means a professional health expert, nor am I perfect; I’m far from it.

If you’d told me ten years ago that I would now be writing for a major lifestyle brand while running my own blog, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. The girl I was then could barely get herself out of bed and dressed. I don’t want any of you thinking that I know better than you; at the end of the day, we’re all on this journey together. Think of this as a monthly letter from a good friend setting you up for a great month. It doesn’t mean that I don’t need a boost from you all every so often!

If you’ve loved this newsletter, I want to hear from you! Send a message over to @Disableddahling on Instagram and let me know what you liked and didn’t like in this letter. I promise I won’t take offense if there are topics you want me to cover; please let me know. After all, this newsletter is about building bridges and creating a community, and I believe communities should have their say in the resources provided.

Go and put the kettle on and have a cup of tea. Hopefully, I’ll see you next month, Bestie.

Lots of love,
DisabledDahling xoxo