That blissful energy that the new year brings is undeniable and you have to take advantage of that. However, the magic doesn’t last too long. How to make it last a little longer?
We are heading for the end of the first week of 2023. We are coming back to normal, some of us in slow motion. You probably have a couple of resolutions and are trying to figure out what to do with them, settling back into your routine and just realizing that everything is kind of the same. Little by little the impulse, the feeling of reset, is going away. Like Cinderella losing the tricks after midnight.
Don’t worry. You still have the chance to keep the momentum rolling. I have a few ideas that have worked for me in the past years.
Grab that vision board and work on it during the entire of January.
January is the time for you to design your year. Yes, you read it correctly. You are the designer of your year ahead. Go further than simple resolutions. Visual boards are fun, they give you the possibility to dream and think about how to make those dreams come true, and also, they are a great tool for manifestation. Cut and paste things you want, describe why you want them, write them down, use your imagination and even be thankful for those things as if you already have them. Also, if at any time of the year, you start feeling low, come back to it and it will remind you of your purposes and reasons to get back to work things out.
Pace yourself.
I tend to compare things to a running race. January is like the first lap. Especially if you are running long distances, that first lap must be strong but not rushed. Sometimes, that fresh start feeling might make you feel like a superhuman and you start trying to run too fast, too early. January is not meant to be the month to figure it all out or make big changes suddenly. The first lap is meant to test the waters. You need to conserve your energy, the race is just starting.
Take immediate action toward your main goals.
So, you have dreams, resolutions, and plans. You have a nice vision board, and you are ready for 2023. Or so you think… the reality, and the reason why we forget our plans and new years resolutions by February is because we don’t take immediate action. Yes, dreams come true, but you need to put in the effort. God is not going to come down on a cloud and take 20 pounds of belly fat overnight. The key here is to write things down. Make a list of your 10 main objectives (or 5, or 3, or 1!), and then make a list of the actions you are ready to take starting TODAY to make those objectives real. Put those lists somewhere where you can see them constantly. Make a calendar. Use your phone for reminders. If you want to create a habit USE JANUARY for that.
I would love to know what you think and what things you do in January to keep the blissful new year’s energy flowing.
Paola is the author of The Lake of Miracles/El Lago de Los Milagros, Shorty Tales (Cuentitos), and The Anxious Mom Manifesto: 18 Lessons to Control your Anxiety Monster. Find her books HERE.
Follow Paola @paobsur
