What do you want to bring into 2024 and what would you like to leave behind?
Setting intentions for the year ahead is something that many of us talk about on New Years Day. Then they are often quickly forgotten about as we return to work, school or our usual busy lives after the bank holiday. Perhaps this year, is an opportunity to change our ways and set intentions more meaningfully and turn them into smart goals we can achieve.
So what is the benefit of setting intentions?
When we keep doing the same things, we will always get the same outcome. If we want to make improvements in our lives, we need to make changes. The start of a new year is a great time to reflect back on the year gone by and then think about setting intentions for the year ahead. The practice of setting intentions is all about creating a vision around how you want your life to be, and then setting actionable steps towards it.
In the article, a powerful guide to setting intentions, it describes the process as slightly different to goal setting. https://www.minimalismmadesimple.com/home/setting-intentions/ "An intention is more of a guide, a purpose you want to manifest and put out there into the world. "
How to start setting intentions for 2024
I love to grab a pen and paper, (usually a new note book I have received for Christmas) and find a quiet space where I can think clearly. For me, lighting a candle helps me to relax and focus. Here are some carefully crafted coaching questions I use to reflect back on the year just gone before I begin to think about setting intentions for the New Year.
Taking some time to read over your answers and reflect on the highlights (and the challenges) from your past year can really help you to understand where you wish to make changes in the next twelve months.
What kind of intentions might you wish to set?
Some areas you might wish to consider when setting intentions could be:
Mental, physical, cognitive, social and spiritual wellbeing.
An example of setting an intention to prioritise mental wellbeing, followed by an action for January might be:
Intention: “I will prioritise my mental health.”
Action: “This month, I will focus on positive mental health by attending yoga classes, taking a screen-free break at lunchtime and starting a gratitude journal.”
There are some great examples here which can spark some interesting ideas: https://blog.davidlloyd.co.uk/setting-intentions/
Taking action after setting intentions
This is an essential part of the process! Without taking action, your intentions won't make the changes you seek. I recommend starting by breaking down the action into small, manageable steps. Make the first step an easy one, and once you have got going, it's much easier to continue.
What is the very first thing you could do to get started? If we use the example above, it could be to set aside 30 mins to research and book into a yoga class or put a journal with a pen next to your bed so it's ready for you to write into.
If you'd like support with setting intentions for 2024 and taking actionable steps forward, hiring a life coach can really help! Check out my life coaching services here for more information on how I can empower you to set and take action on your New Year intentions.
