Your Year, Your Way

Happy New Year and welcome to 2023. Wow, another year goes by and it’s hard to imagine what this one will bring.

If you are busy setting yourself goals for the year that’s great. If your more of a “go with the flow” kind of person then let’s see what happens.

There is always some excitement and anticipation around this time of year, We aren’t sure what is going to arise. But we all want to ensure it is the best year possible for us.

If you are feeling the pressure to set goals, where is the pressure coming from? You? Family/Friends? Social media? There is no need to do anything. Honestly, we’ve had it drummed into us for decades that new years are the chance for us to have a new start. Diets start, we employ new exercise regimes, we join the gym, we put pressure on ourselves to look good, feel good, be good. So this year I am giving you a breather. STOP.

Don’t set goals, don’t make plans. Just be.

What did you do in 2022 that you loved? Did you start something new or take up an old hobby? There is no need to write a new story if you liked the old one and it is working perfectly well for you. Start the year by just starting it. Enjoy what you do, if you go to the gym each day, then great, or if you start each day with having a cuppa outside, keep it up. There is no need to think of new things if you are happy doing what you’ve been doing.

Only change things up or follow a new path if you are bored, in need of some new skills or what to try something new.

Perhaps you want to improve on last year, take things to next level. You started lifting weights and now you want to get competitive or you read 24 books and want to read 36. The possibilities are endless.

Reflect on the last year, what did you learn? What did you like and what did you dislike? Do more of what you like, none of what you dislike and be comfortable doing it. Just because we start a new year, doesn’t mean we need to begin a new life.

There has been so much change and upheaval over the past few years that craving stability, a year of little or no change, one where we can generally see what is in front of us is a good thing.

Why not try this instead:

Make a list of all the things you did last year you want to keep doing. Some of these may have become a habit; such as doing 10 jumping jacks before breakfast or reading a chapter of a book before getting up in the morning. Think about the one off things you did that you loved such as white water rafting or rock climbing, did you go away for a weekend and enjoy some activities?

Now the things you love to do that are habits, keep doing them, perhaps you could make more time for them, give yourself an extra 5 or 10 minutes a day doing them but no pressure too. The one off activities if you enjoyed them and want to do them again, what is stopping you? Is it time or money or having someone to go with? You don’t need to increase the frequency you do them, perhaps you treat yourself to a trip once a year that incorporates that activity, or you go somewhere different to do it.

We think of a new year with giving everything our all and doing things 10 times better, or faster or harder than the previous year. But really, there is nothing wrong with keeping it simple. So if you loved white water rafting and want to do it again but feel it’s indulgent, then keep it to a once a year activity, perhaps the change up is you go on a different river each year or you go with different people or on your own.

To help you think about 2023 in a different way:

• Write a list of all the things you enjoyed last year.
• Keep up your habits no need to add new ones unless you want to.
• Don’t feel pressure to add 10 new things to your new year plans.
• You don’t have to do an activity weekly or monthly, once a year can give you something to look forward to and be a special treat for you to indulge in.
• You can make resolutions or goals or plans at any point in the year, it doesn’t have to be the 1st January.
• Be kind to yourself, do the things you want to do and say no to the things you don’t.

Whatever you decide to do with your year, whether it is to make plans, enjoy what you have built over the last year or two or even just go with the flow. Do your year, your way and don’t feel the pressure to do it differently.

Wishing you all a great 2023. Thank you for reading and your support.

Take care and look after you.

Love Emma xx