I hope that you had a revitalizing break this holiday season and got time to enjoy with your loved ones. As we approach the new year, 2024, it is a great time for reflection as well as anticipation. We need to take time away from electronics and in solitude to reflect on the past year-the good, the bad, and the ugly. When you think about the year as a whole, can you visualize the roller coaster of life that you just experienced? What goodness from 2023 will you carry with you into the new year? What negativity and bad experiences will you let go of?
Perhaps you need to create a ceremony to let go of all that doesn’t serve you, as well as to embrace all the goodness that you deserve in the new year. One practice I like to do before the clock strikes 12am on January 1st, 2024 is to make a list of everything I want to achieve in the next 12 months. It is a type of visualization and time to conjure up good thoughts with good intentions. For me, I want to dive into wellness in 2024. It is my duty to take care of myself in order to better serve the Prana Integrated Bodyworks community. The stronger and healthier I am, the better I can care for you and your loved ones.
And I want to challenge you to do the same with me! Practicing self-care, following deep-healthy nutrition, staying hydrated, being mindful of toxic people and places and staying away from people/places/things that trigger you, putting yourself first in order to better help your loved ones (after all, how can we as mothers, fathers, grandparents, etc., be able to properly help our children, spouses, partners, and friends if we do not feel good or fully present in our own mind-body-soul).
That is not to say that you would be selfish or self-indulgent. It just means putting a greater focus on your pillars of health including: sleep hygiene, exercise, reducing stress, social, mental, connection, food/nutrition, gut health, spiritual, physical, and healthy intimacy. Taking better care of these aspects of our self-care to promote better overall health outcomes.
Find an approach that works for you. Are you an all or nothing kind of person? If so, you may need to cut things out cold turkey, and dive into new habits full force. If that seems overwhelming to you, try slowly tapering off bad habits such as excess sugar and caffeine. If you are drinking 6 cups of coffee per day, make 3 of those decaf and 3 of them caff for 2 weeks. Then taper back from 6 cups to 4 cups to 2 cups and replace the other cups with a hydrating herbal tea. If you need to replace one bad habit with a good habit, such as journaling or taking a walk for 15 minutes, try it out!
Above all, be kind to yourself. Love yourself before you can truly love another being. Don’t talk trash about yourself or give yourself constant put downs. For every negative thought you have about yourself, whisper one loving sweet nothing about yourself. “I’m so fat,” could be replaced with, “I am a soft place to land for my children, and I have kind eyes.” Continue chipping away at small daily goals to reach weekly, monthly, and quarterly goals.
We are in this together. If you want to talk about your new year resolutions or just need a shoulder to lean on, I am here for you. I have my own struggles that I am overcoming, and I believe it truly takes a village when you are raising a family and building a business. I am also no stranger to depression and anxiety, and can be a solid accountability buddy to give you gentle encouragement throughout the year to stay on track and not to wander from your health path too much. Just take the time to come and see me. This year should be your best year yet! Happy New Year!!