Happy almost New Year! Can you believe we are about to say good-bye to 2019 and hello to a whole new decade??
As I reflect on this past year, I wanted to send you much love and gratitude for being part of this community of amazing mammas!
I also wanted to send you wishes for an incredible year to come. Here’s hoping that 2020 brings you good health, balance and all the good feels, mamma!
I spent some time recently reflecting on my wellness wins in 2019 (and I hope I inspired you to do the same!).
That got me thinking about what went well this year. And what didn’t. And what I want to do differently as we enter the new year.
How about you?
Have you spent any time dreaming up all the possibilities for the new year? What do you want to try? What do you want to accomplish? And what will you be most proud of this time next year as you reflect on your wins in 2020?
Instead of setting a new year’s resolution (that is often abandoned before the end of January), try these steps for setting intentions and mapping out your 2020 wellness plan.
Here are some pointers to get you started:
- Brainstorm and Visualize. At the end of 2020, how do you want to feel? Brainstorm all the good feels – jot them all down! Then visualize yourself at the end of the year feeling all those feels. What does it look like? Write it down. For example, at the end of 2020, I am running around playing tag with my girls and husband in the backyard laughing and enjoying myself in the moment. I feel good physically and mentally. My mind is clear and I am well-rested. I feel light and carefree, looking forward to another great year!
- Unpack your vision. What are some general themes that pop out at you? In the example above, here are a few things that stand out: being physically capable of running around with the kids, being present in the moment, not feeling stressed, feeling well-rested, and feeling connected to children and husband.
- What needs to change? Once you’ve unpacked your vision to identify some general themes, it’ll be easier to target some areas that may need to change to get you closer to your vision. This requires a decent amount of self-reflection and honesty with yourself. To keep the example above going, some things might include improving physical fitness (which may also include losing some weight, increasing stamina, feeling more limber), getting better quality and quantity of sleep (which may include getting 8 hours of quality sleep rather than the 6.5 currently), managing stress better (which will allow you the freedom to enjoy these moments rather than worry about work or cleaning the house), being more present in the moment (putting the phone down and enjoying quality family time), and nurturing relationships with children and spouse.
- Set your intentions. Once you’ve identified that which needs to change, set some specific intentions for yourself based on your priorities and values. You don’t have to tackle everything all at once! You could choose 2 or 3 things or you could write intentions for everything and then choose to work on a few things at a time. Do what works best for you! Continuing the example, maybe 3 intentions look like this: 1) I will improve my physical stamina by doing interval training at least 3x/week for 30+ minutes; 2) I will get better sleep by being in bed ready for sleep no later than 10:30 pm; and 3) I will experiment with meditation at least 2x/week as a way to reduce stress and improve my ability to be present in the moment.
- Map it out: Identify those small steps that will yield the big results you want. Unpack those intentions even further. What needs to happen in order for you to meet your goals? What tiny steps do you need to take? And then focus on those! For example, in order to do interval training at least 3x/week for 30+ minutes, what do you need to do? Where will you do it? When? What will you need to get it done? Maybe you will train outside running and walking. In the morning before work. You’ll need some way to time the intervals. How about child care coverage? And workout clothes and sneakers? You’ll need to get up by a certain time. Write it all out – every minor detail. Figure out what obstacles you may encounter and a plan of attack.
Mamma, step 5 is the hardest! This is usually where people get tripped up … Don’t skip this step!
If you get tripped up on the process or need a little extra guidance, support or motivation to help along the way, I’m here for you.
Visit me on facebook and share some of your intentions!!
