If your vision for the year is still a little foggy, that’s okay. A mindfulness approach will allow you to gain greater clarity about what is important to you. It brings all the essential ingredients together in perfect order and timing.
Essential ingredients for a happy new year
Before I set my goals for the New Year, I reflect on my past year’s successes and lessons.
#1 Know what you are grateful for
Take some time to reflect on the past 12 months and list what you are grateful for. This helps you connect with what is important to you and will bring happiness into your new year.
Consider all parts of your life, because everything impacts your health and wellbeing—family, friends, pets, where you live, your health and access to medical care, and a safe and nutritious food supply.
#2 How did you fair with your goals for last year?
Celebrate the goals that you have achieved. Being able to acknowledge your successes will bring confidence into the New Year.
If you did not pursue last year’s resolutions or other goals, consider the reasons why. Perhaps the goals you set were not relevant as the year progressed, or they were unrealistic.
Understanding the reasons why you abandoned your goals is important, so you can modify your expectations for the coming year. I struggled with one of my New Year’s resolutions, which was to de-clutter my cupboards.
I wasn’t specific enough with my goal, and three months into the year, I stopped scheduling in a cupboard space to sort.
#3 What lessons did you learn last year?
Your lessons may be related to your New Year’s resolutions or other experiences that you had during the year.
Lessons cover the full spectrum—mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health. As an example, you may have learned that unless you plan your meals and/or shopping for the week, you cannot prepare home-cooked meals.
Or you may have realised that you need to pause after an upset; otherwise, your emotions drive what and how you eat.
One of my lessons was a reminder that ‘time for me’ is essential. My horse-training time needs to be scheduled in my diary.
#4 Things to keep
What new choices did you make last year that will benefit you in the new year? Perhaps you started walking with a friend on a Saturday morning or taking a home-made lunch to work. These types of choices may very well benefit you this year, too.
What lessons or skills did you learn that support your health and wellbeing, such as pausing before you eat to gauge whether you really are hungry?
The production of my online courses required a team of experts.
I was reminded of the importance of calling on specialist advice and support. You may benefit from specialist advice to meet your health and lifestyle goals.
Eating for You offers personalised guidance on eating and living mindfully, allowing you to set and achieve your specific goals with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
If you would like to find out more, book in for a free Mindful Eating Discovery Call
#5 Things to let go of
These are habits of thought, speech and action.
- Do you believe that you can introduce a new way of eating and enjoy the benefit?
- What patterns of speech do you have that either support or detract from enjoying better health and more energy?
- What types of choices do you make? Are they automatic (habits) or mindful choices (require reflection and assessment)?
In the New Year I will be leaving deadlines behind. This doesn’t mean I won’t attach timeframes to my goals and tasks, but I won’t be attached to the deadline.
Often, unexpected events occur, and we need to speed up or slow down. Being mindful of this prevents unnecessary stress and allows us to pursue our goal within a new timeframe.
If you are sick of setting resolutions that don’t deliver lasting results, then book your free Mindful Eating Discovery call
In the free free15-minute call, we will talk about what you are wanting to achieve for your eating and health, what you have tried before, and if I can help you, I will provide you with a personalised tip to help you on your way to enjoying lasting results.