How to Embrace the In-Between Seasons of Life
April 5, 2024
New Year’s resolutions are essential to starting the year on the right foot. They provide an opportunity to reflect on the past year and set goals for the upcoming year. Deciding on a resolution can be challenging, but it can also be a fun and rewarding experience that will make you feel empowered and excited for the year ahead. It’s a great way to stay motivated and focused and create a plan to make positive changes that will bring you more joy.
Laughter releases endorphins in the body that have positive effects on our system. It helps to release stress and positively changes your mood. So, this year, look for opportunities to bring more laughter into your life. Not sure where to start? Here are a few ideas:
Each day, reflect on the good things you have going on in your life. I know that life sometimes can wear you down to the point where you can’t see the good anymore. But no matter how hard it is, there’s always something to be thankful for. Every day gives you another opportunity to begin again. So if there’s nothing else you can think of to be grateful for, at least be thankful for a new day.
What are you most passionate about? What activities bring you joy? Look for opportunities to do more of these this year.
Being in nature is very therapeutic for me. Whether hiking in the woods or just lying on the beach, something about being connected to nature soothes my soul.
Here are some simple ways you can connect to nature at least once a week:
In addition to donating to your favorite charity, look for other ways to get involved. Consider connecting with a local organization that needs your help. Not only do you get the opportunity to make a difference, but your acts of kindness also fill you with joy and fulfillment. Not sure where to start looking? Volunteermatch.org is a great place to help you find volunteer opportunities in your area.
Do you love writing, art, dance, music, or another creative outlet? Make more time for your creative side. By exploring new creative pursuits, you can find happiness.
Let the people in your life and those you come across know that you appreciate them. A simple thank you goes a long way to let someone know they matter. When you make others feel good, you feel good too!
Get clear on what you would like to achieve in the new year, and spend time on activities that support what’s most important to you. Working on what matters to you will bring you satisfaction and fulfillment.
Let’s face it: life can get pretty busy, but it is essential to carve out time for the people that matter in your life. True friendships are a source of inspiration, support, and joy.
Exercise helps reduce stress and increases energy. It can also improve your mood and make you feel happier. So this year, carve out some time for a bit of exercise. Start slowly so you don’t get burned out. Start with at least 15 minutes a day, and then you can increase the time and level of difficulty as you get more comfortable with your new routine.
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the foods you love, but eat them in moderation. Many of us enjoy sipping our favorite wine or eating our favorite chocolate.
My guilty pleasure is my mother’s Jamaican Christmas rum cake and sorrel (Jamaican wine). Whenever I’m home for Christmas, I have one too many. The instant satisfaction is incredible, but after a couple of days, I can feel how sluggish my body feels. So I’ve learned instead of trying to finish a whole cake in a day, maybe one slice each day will suffice. My mother often bakes at least 12 cakes during Christmas, so you can see how this is a struggle lol.
Sleep is one of the best things you can do for your body and mind. Researchers have found that getting enough sleep boosts happiness levels. Remember that you need to take care of yourself no matter how busy you are, so try to carve out enough time to sleep.
We often spend our waking moments thinking about things that happened in the past and things that may or may not occur in the future. This often leads to stress and anxiety. But so much joy can be found in simply enjoying the present moment.
It is okay to plan for the future, but do not be so obsessed with the future that you miss today. Because the majority of our life is made of this moment and then the next. We don’t live in tomorrow; we live in today. So, let’s make it a goal for the new year to be more present in each moment.
Do you love board games or puzzles? Running around with your kids or pets? There’s so much joy when you let loose and spend some time playing games. Let your inner kid come out every now and again.
There will be situations you encounter in life that make you angry. Anger in itself is neither good nor bad; it’s simply an indication that this situation displeases you. The issue is sometimes we allow anger to consume us. When you give in to anger, you give that person or situation power over your emotions.
Your feelings are valid, but remember, you have the power to choose how you respond. So the next time you experience something difficult, ask yourself:
I often find that when you encourage others and help them find happiness, your joy will increase. It always feels good to help others. Sometimes, your encouragement may be just what they need to make a positive change in their life.
It’s essential to find time to take care of yourself. We are often so many things to so many people that we neglect ourselves. But it is okay to do something just for you. Maybe you treat yourself to a spa day once a month, or once a week, you have a self-care day that involves running a bath, a glass of wine, and your favorite book. Whatever you choose to do, just do something for you.
Look for the silver lining in all situations. Life is indeed full of surprises, both good and bad. But no matter what life throws at you, your mindset is something you can always control. With practice, you can learn to maintain an optimistic outlook and stay positive no matter what. By taking charge of your attitude and responding to life’s challenges with a positive mindset, you can grow as a person and move closer to achieving your goals.
Have you drifted apart from some family members? Consider reaching out to them this year. Reconnecting with lost family members can help strengthen our current relationships as we share experiences, memories, and feelings with people we may not have had the chance to before. It can also allow us to realize how much we have in common with our family and build a mutual understanding and appreciation for one another.
Setting new goals is an integral part of our growth and development. It encourages us to take risks and challenge ourselves to learn new skills. It can help us stay motivated and focused on achieving our desired outcomes. New goals can also be a source of inspiration and give us a sense of accomplishment when we reach them. Setting new goals can help us stay organized, create balance, and keep on track with our overall objectives. It can also provide an opportunity for self-reflection and allow us to look back on our progress and assess our successes and failures. Ultimately, creating new goals can help us reach our highest potential and become our best selves.
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New Year’s resolutions can be a powerful way to transform your life. I hope these 20 New Year resolution ideas will inspire and help you on your personal development journey this year.
Did any of these resonate with you? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
The Unfolding Rose provides you with the tools you need to discover your purpose and bring it to life.
2 Responses
Quite a lot of the New Year’s resolutions above resonated with me: Spend quality time with friends, exercise frequently, do something just for you, get enough sleep, and reconnect with lost family members. I am certainly going to try to do these, especially by spending quality time with friends and reconnecting with lost family members. Life is short and presents enough challenges along the way therefore, we need to make sure we enjoy the family, friends, and people dear to us. This year I want to feel the joy and happiness these resolutions will bring to me and others as we connect, reminisce, laugh together, and support each other during the year.
I love that you found these helpful. Life is indeed short, so let’s fill it with as much love, joy, and positivity as possible.