Transitioning into a New Year

So, here we arrive at the start of another new year: 2024. In my last blog post, I wrote about how Christmas can be a difficult time for people; of course, the new year can be equally challenging. The celebrations being so close together can feel like a double whammy!

There is nothing so special about January 1st, and in fact this has only marked the start of the new year since 1752, when Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar. While many other countries followed suit, there are exceptions, such as China and Ethiopia. 

Christmas and New Year's day falling as they do creates an "in-between" week which leaves many feeling strangely disorientated! This can, of course, be a great opportunity to reset and gear-up for the new year. In reality though, the busyness of the months leading up to Christmas, and the shorter, colder, wetter days are perhaps not conducive to bursting into 2024 with a new zest for life! I am certainly not feeling it this year; I can't even bring myself to take down the Christmas tree!

It is at this time of year that we really feel Western culture driving expectations. At Christmas, it's the pressure to spend a lot of money. At New Year, it's about setting goals that can make us successful. 
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Hard as it can be not to conform to societal pressure, I want to make a wild suggestion: that you actually have a choice! You do not have to reflect on last year or make a list of new year's resolutions. While it is certainly helpful to be reflective, and to think about hopes and make changes, this could really be done at any time of the year. For instance, perhaps you find you have more energy in the Spring or Summer, for this kind of thing? Personally, I find the Autumn is a good time for me. Even better, making time for this on a weekly, or even daily basis may be even more powerful. 

I would also point out how important it is to set goals with an abundance mindset, rather than a deficit mentality. What I mean by this is recognising what we already have, and already are, and building from there, rather than thinking that we need to "do" things in order to be acceptable as a person. 

If this is something you struggle with, I would suggest that focusing on internal, rather than external aims is key. A lot of this can be in the wording. For example, instead of having a resolution to lose weight, how about reframing to appreciate and be thankful for my body. If you can love your body as it is, you are much more likely to be driven to take good care of it by eating and exercising in balanced ways that feel good. 

Another way of re-thinking resolutions is to consider what you would like to give yourself this year (or this months, week, day or moment). Here are some examples:

~Time to do the things I love
~More moments with people who build me up
~Kind self-talk
~Forgiveness
~Time for working on myself e.g. therapy or journalling
~Treats
~Realistic challenges

I wish you well for the year ahead, whatever it may bring. I hope you grow in self-compassion and an appreciation of your uniqueness!