January.

It rolls around too fast every year, and we begin it with the best of intentions after the indulgence of Christmas. Our first question to ask once the clock strikes midnight is ‘What are your New Years resolutions?’ And we set about setting goals for what we want to achieve in the next 365 – well 366 days this year!

While this can give focus, it can sometimes lead to judgment on how ‘bad’ we have been, and our inner perfectionist runs rampant on all the things we can improve and make better. However, once the novelty of the New Year runs out, so too can our will power and we put those intentions back on the shelf, ready to dust them off with renewed vigour in eleven months time.

We here at Loving Earth like to go about things slightly differently, so have put together our top five tips on how to get your new year kick started without losing momentum and with absolutely no judgment.

Slow down
In the Southern Hemisphere it’s hard to think about slowing down as summer is still in full swing, along with festive holidays and spending time with our nearest and dearest. But taking some time to look at what you really want to see happen in the year ahead, will help you stop the overwhelm of excitement that can come with the prospect of a clean slate.

Ask why
We all would love to travel more, make better food choices and maybe call our mums’ more, but the biggest question to ask is why you want these things. What is it that having them will make you feel or allow you to do? It helps when you get a little off track to really be settled in why you want what you want to re-inspire you to keep going.

Simplify
It’s easy to get carried away and reinvent your whole self but the most impact you’ll have on making lasting change is if you pick only a handful of things to focus on. Be gentle with yourself if you don’t hit the ground running, and remember that there is a whole year ahead; not every new habit or transformation has to happen in January!

Make space
The biggest cause for letting our goals wander is that we haven’t maybe considered how much room we need to make for them. We are all doing more now than ever and adding ‘training for a marathon’ or ‘make every meal from scratch’ takes some preparation! What are you willing to give up to get what you want?

Have a plan
Having big, hairy dreams to take on and have come true is one of the sweetest things. To stop your dream staying a dream though, you have to have a plan and you have to take action every day. Whether it is one small step or a large leap, getting into the habit of doing something on a daily basis that gets you closer to your goal is what will make it become a reality.

If all else fails, pick one word and focus on a new area every quarter. It helps navigate your choices throughout the year and keeps you accountable to living congruently. Whether that be ‘Activity’ and your area is health, or ‘Nourish’ and your area is personal wellbeing, knowing where your energy is going will allow your intentions to flourish and help this year be your year.