Navigating January and the New Year

Many kick off a new year with resolutions, but January has a different idea in mind for me.  January makes me want to get cozy with a book for oh I don’t know, the next three months?!

In an ironic twist, I enjoy winter. I like watching snow, listening to rain. It’s just that January…man…it’s rough here in the Northern hemisphere. Where I live it is almost always grey, overcast, windy, and COLD. Not descriptors that scream out “change” or “do something new”; in fact, the gloomy background can make goal setting a major challenge.  Because of this, I rarely opt to set a goal or resolution in January. I would prefer to begin those in July or September – months that coincide with second halves of the year or my birthday or the beginning of the school year. I should say, the kids’ school year. With the exception of my first semester, every semester I have returned to school post high school graduation was not in the fall, but either in the bliss of the early summer months or the dark and dreary beginning of January. I am continuing with the cold January beginning as I start coursework for the MSW this year.

2024 is an interesting beginning for me, in that I still am looking for a part time job. All of my usual go to work out and self-care routines have been canceled (Peloton, Bar Method, regular facials) as a result of the job loss last summer. And yet, I set myself some goals for 2024. For my physical and mental health and to jump out of the funk that I have fallen into. They are simple goals:

Eat Better. Eat less processed food and incorporate more protein and fruits and veggies. Focus on adding an additional serving of veg daily. Like most women, I have spent the last ten years feeling as though I need to lose weight. A good friend once asked me a few years ago if the reason I am not losing weight is because my body is telling me it is happy right where it’s at. I am taking this to heart, in a shift of approach I am trying to eat healthier options and food that makes me feel good without restricting.

Move more. This goes along with number one; I am trying to move more. More walking. Parking further away. Little things like that are going to add up eventually. Additionally, I am adding back in weight work and taking advantage of free classes when I can. Hopefully this year I can add Peloton and/or Bar Method subscriptions back. For now, YouTube and walking will do. I aim to get in at least fifteen minutes of movement a day.

Stress less. I know.... this seems a big goal. I have realized my body is in fight or flight and has been for years. It’s why my sleep cycles are out of sync, why I can’t shake this grey feeling, and likely why my weight is stagnant. To counteract I am adding in 15 minutes of somatic exercise and vagal toning daily in addition to 10-15 minutes of relaxation meditation nightly, complete with dimmed lights, candles, and sound baths. I am also cutting WAY back on my coffee intake and being mindful of HOW I eat foods and the order I eat. No more skipping breakfast and running on coffee.

One of the aspects of starting goals is making them SMART, which I have in a way. There is not a time restriction on my goals, because I am working more to incorporate them as healthy habits. I am starting small and adding measurable aspects. Adding an additional veggie. Eating protein at breakfast. 15 minutes of mediation and walking.  Hopefully breaking it down into small goals will lead to better habits as the year goes on.

As 2024 unfolds, I'm navigating challenges, embracing change, and working towards holistic well-being. Join me on this journey of setting mindful goals and cultivating healthy habits throughout the year.

Always,

Morgan