New Year’s resolutions can be a great way to set goals for ourselves and strive to make improvements in our lives. But making resolutions can also feel like a chore, especially when they’re so easily forgotten by the time February rolls around. That’s why I’m choosing to approach the new year differently this time—by setting intentions instead of resolutions! 

An intention is more than just an arbitrary goal that we set for ourselves; it’s a positive mindset that we want to cultivate in order to live our best life. For me, that means focusing on things like self-love, mindfulness, and simplifying my life. Rather than setting hard-and-fast rules or expectations for myself, my goal is simply to keep these values at the forefront of my mind throughout 2023.

In the past, when January would roll around, I’d outline huge resolutions for myself. Some more attainable than others, my days were spent hustling towards accomplishments. Checking off to-do’s and living for the future rather than enjoying the journey. I also noticed that no matter how much I accomplished, it never seemed like enough. I’d continuously ‘move the carrot’ instead of celebrating my wins…

So this year, rather than breaking down long-term goals into specific steps or milestones, I’m going to focus on small changes I can make every day. This might mean taking a few extra minutes each morning for self-care activities such as meditation or journaling before starting my day. Or maybe it’s something as simple as setting aside time every evening to read through an inspiring book before going to bed. I’ll be navigating exactly what I want to do and how I want to accomplish them over the next few weeks, knowing that these small shifts will gradually add up over time and eventually become ingrained in my daily routine without feeling overwhelming or cumbersome. 

I have no doubt that my deliberate intentions and enjoyment of the journey are going to set me up for success. I know that not setting outlandish resolutions doesn’t mean the absence of goals because I definitely still have them. They however, won’t consume my thoughts and actions as I move through my days.