Setting intentions for the New Year
Someone once told me ‘Don’t sweat the small stuff’. With every passing year the older I get, the more I understand what it actually means. Most things we fret over mean nothing in the long term.
We are already through January and I’ve been thinking a lot about the things I want to focus on – not just this year but in the long term. Things that actually will make a difference to the quality of life I lead. I reckon once you’ve gone around the sun for more than four decades it’s the small things that make all the difference.
1. Health:
Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live. - Jim Rohn
Nothing is more important than a healthy mind and body. I neglected my health throughout my thirties, and I’ve learnt the hard way that when you are unwell no amount of money, achievements, relationships (things we usually focus on) can make you feel better.
My focus has been to make simple incremental changes to my life and routines over time that eventually add up.
Continuing to move my body at least 5 times a week including things like Yoga, Pilates and long walks in nature.
Starting with one mindful meal a day.
Making small changes with the kind of food I put in my body like reducing dairy as much as possible, eating less non-vegetarian food, reducing sugar and processed/ packaged foods.
Prioritizing annual health check-ups and visits to the doctor instead of ignoring the signs.
2. Career:
One of the biggest mind shifts I’ve made over time is to care less about what people think of me and how quickly I’m growing in my career. Things happen when they are supposed to happen, all we have control over is the job we have on hand. The outcome is truly not in our control.
My focus now is to invest in myself - to develop my skills, enjoy the work I get to do, save for the long term, pay off my debts (including my mortgage).
3. Self:
Prioritizing all the things I love to do is another one of my priorities. This includes reading more books, writing more, travelling to new places, giving back more.
There are things I’d like to be more mindful of too like not getting influenced by the crazy consumerist messages we get bombarded with everywhere - buying less and more intentionally. Limiting screen time.
None of this happens overnight. The biggest life changes can be made by being mindful, taking one step at a time and just moving forward even if at a slow pace. The only person I’m trying to be better than is the person I was yesterday.
