The new year is here! Many people, including me, take the time to reflect on the past year (which you can read about here!) and set intentions for the year to come. While resolutions and goals can be useful, there is something particularly powerful about setting intentions for the new year. I wrote a bit about this last year, but it’s always good to take stock of where you are in the present and where you want to be in 12 months time.
Intentions are different from resolutions in that they are not about specific outcomes or tasks that need to be accomplished. Rather, they are about the underlying mindset and approach that you want to bring to your life. They are about the way you want to show up in the world and the values you want to prioritize. So instead of “I’m going to quit smoking” it would be more like “I’m going to be more mindful of my health choices”.
By setting intentions, you are taking the time to think about what is most important to you and how you want to cultivate those values in your life. This can bring a greater sense of purpose and meaning to your actions, as you are not just going through the motions but actively working towards living a life that is aligned with your values and goals.
Setting intentions can also be a helpful way to stay focused and motivated throughout the year. I have the surge of new energy in January but it’s very easy to be burnout in 4 weeks. Most of us are guilty of paying the monthly gym direct debit having visited 4 times in January and let the habit fall to the wayside, once or twice, or is that just me?! When you have a clear intention in mind, it can be easier to make decisions and take actions that are in line with that intention. This can help you stay on track and avoid getting derailed by distractions.
Additionally, setting intentions can be a powerful tool for personal growth and self-improvement. I like to write mine down and revisit them periodically, buy a special fancy notebook to write them in if that’s your thing, then you have the option to write notes on the ways you have put your intentions into practice!
I’m hoping to make some big moves in 2023 both professionally and personally so I will share the intentions I have set to keep the basics nailed down; it may even help you to think of what you might like to set for yourself:
- Prioritising Self-Care – I put my heart and soul into my work, sometimes at the sacrifice of my own health because I’m so passionate about helping others. I realised I have a cycle of working super hard, burning out and needing to recover, then repeat. I hope to break that cycle that year.
- Setting Hard Boundaries – This links with my first intenton nicely because I do plan to leave work on time, stop answering emails after 9pm, put my laptop away, no work related activity on Sundays and have time to do what I want to do. Then I can’t say “no” to an emergency booking, I feel obligated to answer all emails before bedtime, reply to an 11pm WhatsApp request or make plans on a day I was saving for myself. I’m terrible at actually sticking to my boundaries!
- Nurture My Relationship – My long-suffering boyfriend, Harry, is so incredibly patient with my long hours, late nights, work-related interruptions and general lack of time. This doesn’t go unnoticed but it sometimes goes unacknowledged in the chaos of day-to-day life. This year I plan to spend more quality time with him and be more present when we do.
- Let Go of Perfectionism – It’s an awful habit lingering from my school days where all I had to do was study and play lacrosse. Plenty of time for every piece of work to be perfect. That time does not exist anymore between work, exercise, studying, chores, sleep and a small amount of time for myself. Instead of stressing over the small details I will accept that perfect is largely unattainable and just do my best for every task I have this year.
Now it’s your turn, take some time to think about what intentions you want to set for yourself and how you can work towards living a life that is meaningful and fulfilling for you!
Happy New Year from Sam at Wisbey Osteopathy!
Wisbey Osteopathy 