Why I Love New Beginnings but Kinda Hate This Time of Year
I have always loved new beginnings. I was one of those nerds in high school who lived for September when school started again. I even went through a period of my life where I would set intentions on the 1st of every month for the coming month. The start of a new book excites me more than most things and I often find myself needing a regular re-set to feel like I’m starting over again. AND I kinda hate January. I know, it should be the ultimate new beginning but I have found that more often than not, I get annoyed with all of the lofty goals set for the new year. When I go to the gym every January 2nd, I remind myself to stick to at home workouts for the month because in January the gym gives Rockefeller Center in December.
I know many people who will set fifteen goals for themselves for the new year, each one more unattainable than the last. Usually, if these last until the end of January, it’s considered a success. I roll my eyes as diet culture preys on this month to attempt to convince us all that we need the newest app to help us lose the holiday weight. In reality, what we need is a lesson on how to set goals that are actually attainable.
I have personally changed the word “goals” to the word intention instead. For me, this re-frames it to be something that I know I want to do and not just something I feel like I should be doing. It also reminds me to live with intention every day of the year and not just hyper-focus on change in January. I love the idea of going into a new season with intent. In our world of Doordash and microwave meals, I love intentionally meal planning and eating homemade meals. To me, January is an opportunity to plant some vegetables in the garden so that come summer, we have a delicious salad ready to nourish us.
So, for this month, I am writing down my intentions. Some examples I am leaning into this year are:
-Finding workouts I love
-Reading more
-Less screen time for my whole family
-Finding hobbies I can do with my son
Then, I like to take each one and set a specific intention. For example, I would like to read fifty books this year. While this would be more than I read this last year, it is not a massive increase and it equals out to be about one book per week, which I know will stretch me at times but is overall pretty attainable for me. But, if you read one book last year, fifty books probably wouldn’t be attainable. Or, if you read one hundred books last year, fifty would be letting yourself off easy. Neither of each would be helpful intentions for you.
January is the time where I lay the foundation for the rest of my year. I start to research what books I want to read and create a list. I map out which ones I think will take me longer than a week to read and which ones I think I could read in a weekend. This way I have a plan of action for how I am going to carry out my intentions. There is now intent on how I am accomplishing my new years goals.
Now, intention is not everything as I could intend to eat the most delicious home-grown salad in June but if I don’t go and buy the seeds now or map out where in my garden I’m planting them, I am never going to get to that nourishing salad. Intent is just the first step that should lead us to following through. If you don’t actually show up for yourself and do the damn thing, then intent is just a cute little word with no real significance.
So, start with intent but don’t let that be the end of your journey. Once you have intent down, buy those seeds and start planting your garden. And remember, an imperfect complete garden is infinitely more helpful than a completed perfect one.