The start of a new year brings many things: colder temps, the slow crawl towards longer days, new insurance plans, and resolutions – so many resolutions. But New Year’s resolutions carry with them a toxic connotation that many people are starting to see through: they tell us that we fell short of the mark the previous year, and now is our chance to do better. The saying, “new year, new me” is a perfect example of this. The old me wasn’t good enough, so it’s time to revamp things.
There’s also something to be said about the unrealistic nature of resolutions. Can you remember the last time you actually stuck to one? I can’t. And we’re not alone! According to U.S. News & World Report, 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions have been forgotten by February. That’s due in part to the fact the resolutions typically don’t align with our real life, but with an idealized version of our life that we think we should be living. If you’ve never been someone who goes to the gym at 6am every morning, the start of a new calendar isn’t going to change that. There’s nothing wrong with the way you’re doing things now. To that end, we’ve compiled a list of ways that you can bring intention into the New Year without the rigidity and let-downs of resolutions.
Resolutions vs. Intentions
While resolutions often feel stilted and “should” driven, intentions have a gentler, more open-ended feel to them. Instead of making hard-and-fast resolutions this year, consider setting broader intentions like being kinder to yourself, improving work-life balance, or finding moments of play or spontaneity in your life. You’re likely to find more organic ways to integrate intentions into your year that feel fun and values-aligned.
Word of the Year
Words of the year have risen in popularity recently – and for good reason! Similar to intention setting, a word of the year allows you to identify a broader theme for the New Year that you want to embody. Some particularly inspiring words I have encountered recently are whimsy, flow, and play. As an added bonus, you can find creative ways to stay connected to your word like setting it as a screensaver on your phone, making a list of books on Goodreads that embody your word, or creating a playlist.
In and Out Lists
In and out lists are a fun way to make sense of what you want to invite more of into your year and what you want to leave in 2024. These tend to be more fun and lighthearted than serious. Some examples include, IN: intuitive movement, prioritizing sleep, weekly therapy 👀 OUT: juice cleanses, hustle culture, and people pleasing.
Taking Stock of the Past Year
It’s just as important to express gratitude for the progress you’ve made over the past year as it is to look towards the next. So take some time to slow down and reflect on the accomplishments you made – even if they weren’t planned – over the past 12 months. It will put you in a much better headspace looking towards the next year than getting down on yourself for what you didn’t achieve.
As a final note, little habit shifts always trump big lifestyle changes. Set yourself up for success! Letting yourself have small wins instead of expecting yourself to become a different person overnight is the way to do it. Success – no matter how small – begets success.
If you’re interested in finding support to navigate the New Year with mindfulness, introspection and ease, feel free to reach out to one of our clinicians today. We would be honored to support you in your journey.
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