Have an Intentional Start to the New Year
As we settle into winter and prepare for the start of 2023, consider what your mind and body truly need this time of year. In between the chatter about new year resolutions and “new year, new me” jokes, there’s an opportunity to connect deeper with your higher self and inner wisdom and choose to start this new beginning with even more intention. In the realm of yoga, intention (or Sankalpa in Sanskrit) is putting your focus and energy on a quality you want to embody or cultivate in both your yoga practice and your everyday life off the mat.
Here are five ways to feel more centered, grounded, and intentional going into the new year:
Ground your energy into your home: make your space at home feel cozy. Light some candles or incense, get a good playlist going, grab a comfy blanket and a new book, and visualize yourself anchoring into your home. When you become more intentional about the energy in your home it can have a similar effect in other areas of your life.
Create boundaries around work and social media: And yes, that includes Twitter. Be intentional about taking time off and fully checking out from work, networking, your multiple news feeds, etc. This can be difficult to do especially if you’re a content creator or self-employed because there’s always a task that needs to be done. But we are all human and all entitled to take mental breaks. Decide what that looks like for you and put those boundaries up – and remember, this is a choice. So be intentional and choose to execute this in a way that improves your life and works best for you, rather than in a way that creates more stress for yourself.
Journaling: Writing your inner thoughts down on paper can be so so helpful and even cathartic at times. For me personally, this is one practice I tend to avoid doing but I always feel lighter after purging repetitive or negative thoughts from my brain. Getting them out of my head and onto paper is a powerful form of letting go and centering your mind. Remember – no one else has to read what you wrote.
Practice yoga asanas: Asanas, or yoga postures, are a literal way to connect with your inner self and strengthen the mind/body connection. There are so many free resources online if you’re new to yoga. My favorite one is a YouTube channel called Yoga with Adriene. Just select a beginner-friendly video and give it a try at home (and give yourself grace if you’re a newbie). Allow yourself to immerse into your experience on the mat. Allow it to feel like a healthy mental escape.
Meditation: Getting quiet and introspective this time of year helps to clear your mind of clutter. Acknowledge any thoughts or beliefs that are holding you back so that you may let them go and leave them in 2022. If you are new to meditation, below is a beginner-friendly practice to try.
Try it: A five-minute practice to ground your energy, center yourself and set intentions
Gather a journal or piece of paper and a pen.
Find a comfortable seated position using pillows and blankets if necessary. Place one hand on your heart and one hand on your belly.
Close your eyes and focus on deep belly breathing, sending the breath all the way down into the stomach. Visualize yourself creating space there. Take 10 deep breaths like this.
Write down a few words that describe your current emotional state i.e., calm, anxious, optimistic, worried, etc. Write down a number from 1 to 10 that describes how good you feel.
Set a timer for 10 minutes. Close your eyes and practice the following breathing count: Inhale to the count of 4. Hold your breath to the count of 4. Exhale for 6 seconds. Repeat this 4-4-6 pattern until the timer signals 10 minutes is up. Repeat if desired.
Return to your journal and spend a few moments writing down any thoughts, feelings, or revelations that came up for you. Write down a number from 1 to 10 that describes how good you feel now, post-meditation.
Perhaps you feel called to write a little bit more about where you see yourself going next year. Choose how you want to feel or what emotions you’d like to embody in 2023.
It’s only when you acknowledge where you’re at that you can let go and begin anew. Decide to be intentional about your life. A new year is a great time to begin!
If you enjoyed this post and want more content like this, please consider sharing my work! Send it to a friend who’s working on mindfulness, tweet out a link for your followers to read (mention me @erinlynnyoga), or make a donation which directly supports my ability to create more free wellness content. Thank you!! 😊