RESOLUTIONS & INTENTIONS
The year is basically over! With Christmas and its festive cheer behind us, the holiday lights have guided us toward New Year’s Eve—the final celebration of the year. During this hazy time between two big festivities, where many of us are engaging in rituals and traditions, I want to reflect on rest, intentions, and routines.
A TIME FOR REST
For many, the days between Christmas and New Year’s Day offer a chance to slow down. Yet, there’s often a tension between the urge to “finish the year strong” and the desire to completely check out. Personally, I’m navigating both feelings.
Rest is essential. How often do we get to experience such a rare, collective pause? If you’re off from work, this is a great time to reset your nervous system and lower your cortisol levels.
At the same time, the looming return to work in January might encourage you to strike a balance—enjoying rest while maintaining some structure, such as consistent wake-up times. If you’re setting New Year’s intentions, this can also be a good opportunity to ease into accountability.
INTENTIONS & ROUTINES
There’s nothing wrong with setting big resolutions if you approach them with presence and take consistent actions toward them. However, I believe the real power lies in creating positive habits and sustainable routines. In a recent health and wellness session I led, I spoke about the transformative benefits of a morning routine.
Connecting with yourself in the mornings can serve as a way to reclaim your sense of agency. The section on developing routines, setting intentions, and using affirmations seemed to deeply resonate with the participants.
One attendee shared her own affirmations, which covered categories like wealth, confidence, and gratitude, and even incorporated Bible verses. It was encouraging for the group to share their own experiences of cultivating positivity in their life.
Speaking affirmations and positive intentions are such powerful tools because they can help you retrain and reprogram your subconscious mind.
Operating from an empowered mindset allows you to take meaningful steps toward your goals. Research has shown that regular self-affirmation practice can even lower stress by making you less reactive to challenges or negative feedback.
By the end of the session, the participants felt inspired and left with commitments to themselves. We plan to check in on these in January. I emphasized the importance of building habits gradually—taking things one step at a time makes the process more manageable and rewarding.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
As we move into the New Year, Are there any commitments you’d like to hold yourself accountable to? What’s one small step you could take tomorrow that would bring you closer to your goals?
→ COMING SOON ←
Interested in learning more about how routines, good nutrition, movement, and other tactics can help you lead a more empowered life?
I’ll be offering my Reclaim Your Power Through a Morning Routine program to a larger audience in January! We’ll talk about ways to reduce stress, improve focus, and foster emotional balance with simple changes to your morning routine.
Together, we’ll help you build a foundation for long-term health by addressing mind, body, and spirit through interconnected practices.
HERBS FOR THE SEASON
Nutmeg: a spice that’s rich in antioxidants to help combat oxidative stress and support overall health. It’s known to aid digestion by relieving bloating and promoting the secretion of digestive enzymes.
Peppermint: This herb can help soothe digestive issues such as bloating, gas, and indigestion by relaxing the muscles of the GI tract. The peppermint scent we all know and love can boost mental clarity and reduce feelings of fatigue or stress.
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All of the images above were created by me using AI generative prompts.
Featured image was captured by me / my photography.
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OBSRVNC 
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