Prepping your New Year Intentions
The New Year is just around the corner and it is getting to the time where we reflect and think about what we want to get out of the next 12 months. We aren’t calling them resolutions as that adds more pressure onto a time that has already been tough to say the least. For 2022, we are setting intentions, things that we would like to do that are going to make us feel good about ourselves. So, if you are with us, here are some tips on how to prep your New Year intentions.
Reflect on the year gone by
Now, we know that the past year has been a rocky one, and there has been a lot to take in and get through, so we are keeping that in mind. However, allow yourself to sit back and look at how far you have come and the things that have gone well this year. If you want to look at it. Rounded view and go back over each month then do that too, but really dig deep to find those nuggets of wonder that have popped up throughout the year. The times you were resilient, the times you were strong, and the times that you stood up for yourself. Those are just a few examples and there is a lot you will have forgotten about along the way. If it helps, set the mood and light a candle, sage your space and grab your favourite drink, to settle into these reflections.
Write a gratitude list
Next up is gratitude. Make a list of all the things and people that you are grateful for. It could be specific situations, things you have done, anything at all that you feel grateful for over the last year. This will really help your mind get into a positive state and a flow state as well, ready to focus on and set those intentions for the next 12 months.
Think about what makes you happy
Now, what makes you happy? It’s a big question and one that you are more than welcome to spend time pondering. Think about what makes you happy and what has made you happy these past 12 months. That is going to be a big factor in the intentions you set and how you move forward with the next year. You want to bring in more happiness, and let go of the things that haven’t served you well, so it is worth making a note of those too, and thinking about the things you don’t want to take into the next year. That can be anything that has made you unhappy, friendships, relationships, certain types of exercise, work, anything at all.
Plan out what you would like to do more of
Once you have that, you are going to plan out what you want to do more of. That might be hiking and exploring, travelling, working, socialising, it can be anything that you want more of in your life, that you want an abundance of. It doesn’t have to be a physical thing either, it can be something like more self love, more compassion, more time to yourself, the list of possibilities is endless with this one, so really think about what you want more of in 2022.
See where you can connect the dots
Now you are starting to build a picture of the things you have enjoyed and felt grateful for over the past 12 months, and the things you want to do more, and less, of for the next year as well. See where the dots can be connected with the previous prompts in order to start to build a picture for your next year.
Set your intentions for 2022
Onto the intentions. There are no rules with this and you can have as many or as little as you would love for the year. There is no right or wrong and you can pretty much do what you like! But, you can use the above prompts if you would like to help you shape these intentions, or they may have given you a pretty clear idea of things already.
There may be on single intention for the year that you would really like to focus your energy on, or there may be a few different ones that are showing up for you that may correlate to different areas of your life. Think about them and write them down when you have them.
We always like to use an actual pen and paper to write down intentions, there is something about the act of writing that really solidifies things in the mind, and so you may get a clearer view of your intentions, and really feel them connecting with you.
Plan in quarterly review to keep on track
If you are setting intentions for 2022, it is important not to set them and forget about them. Schedule in quarterly, or monthly, reviews of your goals in order to see where you are at and whether you are on track with the intentions that you have set. Again, there is no right or wrong, but giving yourself time to check in and stay accountable will really help you keep going with them.
Things to remember and some tips
If you do want to abandon your intentions, that is more than okay. There is no one telling you what to do and how to live, so if the intentions don’t feel great for you anymore, then let them go, it is okay. It doesn’t make you a failure or mean that you have to write the year off, let them go and move on, it is more than alright.
If you’re sticking with your intentions, something we have done a few times as we love, is to schedule notes or emails to yourself as little reminders throughout the year. It can be a message of encouragement, or a check in with your own intentions, whatever present you think you will appreciate or need. It will make you smile, we promise!
Another tip is to say no more when things don’t align with your intentions and goals. In life, we have a tendency to say yes in order to please other people, and there will be some things in life that we do have to do. However, if you don’t have to do it and you don’t want to do it, then don’t. Say no and say yes to the things that align with your intentions.
Here at Welcome to MADE, we are here to support you and your intentions, so if one of yours is to find a happier and healthier you, get in touch with a member of the team to speak about our wellness centre in Staffordshire, or to check out our online offerings too.
