I don’t know about you, but New Year’s resolutions can sometimes leave me feeling defeated and frustrated. So this year, rather than choosing idealistic and unattainable goals, I’ve thought about what I have been doing new. So I focused on what I enjoyed last year and decided to amplify these changes.

I have enjoyed being more intentional with my time. When reflecting on it, I identified many ways it has been beneficial. I have been more intentional by mainly allocating my time to people, places, and things that bring value to my life immediately or in the future.

Being intentional has promoted stronger relationships with those I value and allow me to build a more robust support system. As a result, I’m using more optimistic language to myself and others, my mood is elevated, I am more relaxed as I move through my days, and I have more time to rest as I share my time sparingly.

I have also been more intentional by dedicating my time to only one task at a time: cooking, working, exercising, seeing friends, resting, or scrolling social media.

Focusing on one task has promoted increased productivity, mindfulness at the moment, a clearer mind without distractions, gratitude for the small moments, and slower thoughts allowing me to be slower and more intentional with my words.

All of these small shifts, ultimately allowing me to; resist the overwork culture placed on us. It removes me from the pressures associated with social media as I am on it much less, and I reflect on how far I have come to reach where I am today.

What recent small shifts have positively affected your life, and what can you do to amplify those shifts in this new year?

Kristen Hamilton, Counselling Psychologist