How To Set Your New Year Intentions

The time between Christmas and the New Year can feel a bit like being in limbo! With Christmas over, some are ready to leave the celebrations and indulgences behind and get back to healthy habits, but with New Year’s Eve around the corner it seems a bit eager!

Romjul

In Norway this period has a name of its own – romjul, and there are some typical routines that go along with this period. Romjul is spent in cosy family gatherings at home or at the cabin. Think roaring fire, hot cocoa, games, long walks and family dinners.

How do you spend this time? Do you continue the celebrations from Christmas through to New Year? Do you return to normal life and return to celebrate New Year? However you spend this period its a great time to make space for a little reflection on the old year and to get clear on what you would like in the new year.

Intention Setting not Resolutions!

Instead of setting resolutions, which often disappear early into the year, leaving a feeling of failure and disappointment in ourselves, try setting intentions. Intentions can help direct our minds towards what is truly important to us, the things we truly desire.

It is also common to set goals for the new year. Whilst goals are an important way to help us reach our targets, they are usually outcome based, I think of intentions as giving purpose to the journey to our goals. If our goals and intentions are aligned with our purpose then setting and using intentions can be a meaningful way to reach them. So each year at this time I carve out a little time for an intention setting ritual.

Create Your Intention Setting Ritual

You will need

  • A quiet, comfy space to sit or lie down (away from any possible disturbances)
  • A journal and pen
  • Light a candle
  • Burn incense if desired

Either sit comfortably or lie down, close your eyes and take some easy breaths, allow your attention to draw inwards and simply follow your breath in and out until you feel settled and present. Take your time and let your mind drift through the year, contemplate your year and let your awareness go to different experiences, special moments, lessons learned, things that didn’t go as expected. Just notice and allow your mind to move between these. Take as long as you need. In your own time let go of these and bring yourself to seated. Take a few cleansing breaths to arrive back in your space and your body.

Now its time to journal

Ask yourself these questions

  • What are the lessons I’ve learned in 2022?
  • What am I grateful for in 2022?
  • What would I like more of in 2023?

Use these answers to help you set intentions for the new year. What you would like more of is a good place to start. When I set these intentions I may come up with a short sentence or simply some words that represent how I wish to feel in life going forward. In my experience, feeling in alignment with my goals is the most powerful way of moving towards them and enjoying the journey.

Happy Intention Setting and Happy New Year!