New Year, Beautiful You, Endless Possibilities
My favorite holiday is New Year’s Eve. Here’s the dorky part: I don’t like to do anything for New Year’s Eve. I’m not a partier and by the time December 31st rolls around, I’m usually exhausted from the previous eight weeks of festivities. Nope, for me, New Years is not about getting dressed up and staying up late to ring in the New Year with champagne and confetti. For me, it’s more about cozying up, settling in, looking back and getting ready to jump forward. I’m ready to reflect, dream and plan.
Even if you aren’t a homebody like me, you might be thinking about 2023 and wondering what you’d like it to look like this year.
Here are a few ideas you might want to try:
Month by month review: Take out whatever type of calendar you use, whether it be hard copy or an online version. Just look at each month. Jot down what you notice. What were the highs and lows of that month? What did you accomplish or learn that month? Any regrets? Do this quick review month by month for the whole year. Do you notice any patterns?
Pick a word or phrase for the year: This can provide a great frame of reference. About 4 years ago I chose three words for the coming year: Stretch, Create, Grow. Each year I re-evaluate those words. Every year, I want to keep the same ones. In 2020, my phrase was, “Make My Year”. The irony of that phrase for the year that the pandemic hit is not lost on me. It was meant to inspire creativity, not to taunt the universe in a Clint Eastwood manner. But that’s what can be fun about a yearly phrase of word, how it evolves and what actually happens. I had to look up my word of the year from last year. It got lost in the shuffle of the year. It was “HOME”. This year, I’ll put my word somewhere prominent so I can remember what it is and keep the intention past January 14th. :)
Do a vision board: I know, some of you will roll your eyes at me after reading the phrase, “Vision Board’’, but others will clap your hands with delight. Visual images spark insight into our brain in a way that words sometimes can’t. You can feel and know something by looking at a photo or image that you can’t pull up with words. Here’s how I recommend doing a vision board. Gather up magazines from all kinds of different areas. Ask friends and family members if you only have Sports Illustrated at your house. Flip through the magazine. Tear out anything that appeals or interests you at first sight. Once you have several, start laying them out on a poster board in a way that pleases you. What do you notice? Are there a lot of outdoor images? Images of family, work, fashion? Are there certain phrases that caught your attention? **Now, you can certainly do this online through Pinterest or other digital means, but I find that there is something to cutting, pasting and holding images in your hands. Go with what works for you. **
Do an audit of your daily routines: Are there routines that need to change that could positively impact your life next year? This can be big or small. Have you been saying you need to go to bed earlier for the past 5 years? What small changes can you make to shift your nightly routine to get there? I can tell you one thing on my list: I HATE brushing my teeth. Does that sound gross? I get them clean, but I don’t ever do the full two minutes. Strangely enough, I really like electric toothbrushes. So, guess what Santa brought me? Yep-an electric toothbrush. Here’s to better dental hygiene in 2023!
Do an identity check: Ask yourself: Am I who I want to be? If not, ask yourself, who are some people that I admire? What do I admire about them? What are some small steps I could take to move me in that direction?
Answer a series of journal questions: Google some lists or use the questions from this site as a starting point. Explore a question a day, or plow through them in a New-Year-Boot-Camp manner.
Not everyone likes to reflect and plan. That’s okay. Do what feels right to you. If you are not a big New Year type of person, permission to simply enjoy the day off.
If looking back on your year or thinking about starting a new year feels overwhelming, reach out. Let’s talk. The possibilities for your life and your relationships are endless. If you are ready to move forward and want to schedule an appointment, we can get that set up as well.
This New Year, I’m sitting on my couch in my cozy clothes believing enough for all of us.
You Got This,
Kate