Happy New Year’s Eve 🎉

Whatever you’re doing tonight, let it be fun, with no expectations, and certainly no guilt! Party, drink, eat… do it all without any looking back. The New Years’ celebrations is one of the few events where everyone, from any religion, background etc. can get together and celebrate. So enjoy it.

And, if you’re thinking something along the lines of “this is the last time I can enjoy a drink or two, or a buffet plate or two, for a while” hold your horses. I understand that the New Year can be a great time for some to set those so-called resolutions, especially with fitness and healthy eating. On the other side, though, I don’t believe in setting resolutions (as most of them do fail, and then we’re filled with layers upon layers of guilt – and for what?). Instead, I encourage you all to set intentions, rather than flimsy resolutions.

We all have goals, dreams, and things we want to accomplish, whether that’s in the world of work, fitness, or hobbies. These are all amazing things to have, so don’t let me stop you from going and smashing those goals – I have mine too! The difference between intentions and resolutions, is that intentions have a meaning behind them – they have a purpose. Resolutions are just things you say you’ll do, usually within an unrealistic time span, and are vague and no umph behind them. Things like “get to X weight or X clothes size”, “eat healthy”, “focus on work more”. These aren’t specific goals, so they’re really hard, if not impossible, to achieve.

This year I want you to turn your attention to what you really want, not what you think you want or need. Ditch the idea that you need to drop a dress size or consume less calories. Focus on how you’ll be healthy, not skinny. Maybe that’s change up your diet a little, by adding more health, ie veggies and fruit to your plate – definitely not taking things away. This way, everything becomes a little more manageable.

Here’s some more tips to reaching your goals, with intention, rather than a “resolution”:

1. Think small – having big goals is great, but having smaller stepping stones to get you there is even better. If you’re focusing on fitness, maybe start with just going to the gym. Feeling confident in the gym, getting up to three visits a week. Remember it’s not a race. Baby steps is the way to go

2. Have a meaning behind your intentions – have a “why” behind each goal you want to set. This way, on days or weeks where you’re flagging, you’ll remember why you wanted to do it in the first place. The common resolutions like losing weight or ordering less takeout (and yes, most resolutions are all about food or exercise!!!), are often built around absolutely nothing! Focus on being healthy over losing weight. Change your mindset and it may move much smoother.

3. Write them down – hold yourself accountable with written words on a page. Pin it up in your room, or make a vision board. Whatever your goal is, keep yourself accountable (not “on track”) so that you remember why you’re doing it.

4. Don’t compare – comparison is the thief of joy, as I’ve said time and time before. You’ll start to see a lot of people sharing their fitness journeys, or crocheting journeys (whatever it is you’re interested in!). Top tip? Don’t scroll, don’t look for things to feel sad or guilty about. Your journey will look different to the next. That’s life. Focus on your ride, ditch the rest of us.

5. Don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t work out – this is why a lot of “resolutions” fall flat on their face, because you feel guilt if you miss a workout one day, or don’t do that new habit of yours in your morning routine. bf you miss it for a day, for days, or even a week, that’s just the course of life. It’s ok to fall back, it’s ok to skip a day of being super productive, or going to the gym, whatever your new intention is. Focus on what you have done over what you haven’t.

6. Set mindful intentions – being mindful, ie setting goals with a purpose, a healthy time period, and attainable results, is the best way to get there when and how you want to. Is your goal realistic? Is the time period too short? These are great questions to ask to ensure you’re on track. Also, having new intentions for the right reasons is the most important thing here. Are you doing it for someone else, for a trend? Or are you doing it for yourself because you truly want to better yourself?

On that note, have a wonderful New Year’s, and don’t let silly little “resolutions” get in the way of you smashing your goals. We’re all here to better ourselves and that’s all that needs to be said.