Is it just me or are you also feeling overwhelmed by new year pressure with all the resolutions and cultural obligations that kick in come January 1st? When we are bombarded with pressure to set new goals, lose the Christmas podge, put right everything that had gone awry last year and perhaps the years previous.
Not only are we in the ❄️midst of winter ❄️(traditionally and naturally a period of hibernation and resting), we are dealing with a collective anxiety and fear from COVID-19, which is still very much here and changing the way we live our lives.
Let’s take the pressure off achieving and just focus on being: being present, grateful, healthy and kind to ourselves.
In the ADHD Unlocked Membership Community this week we have decided to forgo resolutions this January and instead set intentions for the year ahead. Come and join us! I've been looking at visuals which inspire and quotes that comfort and encourage self love and compassion. This feels like a great leap of progress for me right now.
If there is one thing 2020 taught me - it's to celebrate the small things, allow myself space to enjoy life and to not be constantly chasing my tail.
I've been learning to breathe, spend time with myself in nature and explore life in a more mindful way.
With that in mind I want to encourage you to create space and perspective to set a theme for your year ahead, or perhaps for the next quarter or six months. There are no rules.
This theme will be what you aim towards, making steps to enhance what is already there, maintaining and building upon healthy habits and rituals. How to pick your theme for 2021
As we discussed in our webinar with our members on Monday, the best way to pick a theme is to ask yourself: why - what is the purpose? The one that feels the most jarring is probably where the most work is required. But you may have a more pressing theme, so perhaps you might focus on two, totally up to you. Self-enquiry will get you there, often writing things down is the most helpful way of processing your thoughts. Once you have the why, you’ll be much more motivated to stick to that particular theme.
Another tool is to think about the past year, sure it was an anomaly, but perhaps it gave you some space to grow or refocus? Review the choices you made without judgement, what would you like to do more of this year and what would you like to do less of?
Check in with yourself. Do the things and people around you make you happy? To really get to the crux of this, it might be worthwhile to go for a walk alone and really have a think about what is best for you. Are you on the right track? Are you where you want to be?
Declare what lights you up. Be honest with yourself about what makes you happy. Where are you in flow, feel motivated... what sparks your creativity? Remember you don't have to be amazing at the thing to want to explore it further. It also doesn't have to be a career choice (unless you want it to be). Its about inviting in joy. For more details around how to set your intentions for this year join the ADHD Unlocked Membership Community where you can tune in to the recording of the webinar. It was a popular one! If you join today do join our induction call at 12.30pm (zoom details can be found in your members portal).
The themes that came up for me were self-love and compassion, creating space and keeping perspective. I’ve even created a visual to keep these in sight and in mind and encourage you to do the same.
Once you have your theme you can then begin to start thinking about how to incorporate these practices into your life, little by little, with no pressure of time or measurements. It's good to set reminders of what you stand for so that when choices arise you can choose the one suited best to your theme. It's a bit like setting brand values. You're basically deciding this year. I'm choosing self-love above everything (practicing what I preach), giving myself more space and perspective to rationalise situations and choices.
Remember to factor in Covid-19 - accept things as they are, set yourself up for the year, but realise that if all you do is keep your tank topped up, that is an achievement in itself. See! Perspective and self-love are already coming into play.
What will you focus on this year?