New Year, New You?

Are you the kind of person who sets New Year Resolutions, of which last approximately five days until you’ve returned to the same old habits, behaviors and thoughts? New Year, New Me is a tried and true concept where people believe that by midnight, they’ll be a brand new human being. Someone no one has ever seen or met before. Completely changed for the better. But … we all know it doesn’t quite work that way — no mater how hard we all try and believe.

Maybe it’s a New Year, but not a New You — at least — not yet. The cool thing about starting over is that sure, it doesn’t happen overnight, but that you can start over whenever you want and take it day-by-day. What do some of your resolutions often include? Weight loss? Eating better or drinking more water? Getting out of debt? Saving more? Traveling? Quitting your job and doing something more meaningful? More self-care? Are you already back on your BS? 

Too soon? Let’s start over.

New Year, New Start. Isn’t that a better picture in your head? You don’t have to be brand new yet. You get to take as long as you want to. Your progress is YOUR own. Your journey is YOUR own. No one else’s! Isn’t that cool? Your only competition is yourself.  

In one of my favorite self-help books, IKIGAI, the Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, it tells me that those in Japan never live a day without being grateful for their work, their families, their friends, their communities, their food, their resources and their lives. The word, Ikigai, is a term that means, your reason for being. Iki means life and gai means value or worth. People in Japan live to be over 100 years old. So far, the leading record is 126 years old before death. These individuals are called centurions. Being grateful and living a life full of peace, joy, gratitude and slowing down or reflecting often is a staple for this long-lived life. There’s a quote that I’ve revolved my life around lately and it reads like this, “burnout does not come from doing too much. Instead, and more likely, burnout comes from the act of doing too little in life that we are passionate about.” Because of this quote, I’ve been able to adopt a better and active routine in taking care of my mental, physical, emotional and even energy or spiritual health. Burning out for you may look like no longer taking the time or feeling the energy to make your bed, get your exercise or skincare in. It could look like ignoring your day-to-day tasks like accomplishing laundry or dishes. Maybe you’re slacking in work because you’re not passionate about what you’re doing or because there’s no off switch to work and home.

You need to be passionate about the things you’re doing in life. What are you passionate about? What brings your life joy, fulfillment and purpose? Falling short in life, whether it be spiritually, physically, mentally or emotionally, often equates to not enjoying the ride of life anymore. Our joy and the color in the world quickly depletes when we are struggling and when we don’t know where to go or who to turn to. When we lose sight of our journey, we often lose sight of the things that we love, or the things that we are passionate about. But if you’re burnt out and you’re struggling, it’s in fact because you’re not doing the things that you love and are passionate about.

The New Year is the year to do more of the things that fill you with joy and give you purpose. I urge you to slow down in your life. I urge you to reflect often, and above anything else I urge you to look not only within your materialistic being, but to look also into your spiritual/energy-filled being to find things that you want to change, conquer, improve and grow on.

Start actively thinking of ways that you can practice feeling joy and purpose in life again. Invest in yourself — your emotional, mental and physical health — everyday. You get to decide when and for how long — but it should be everyday and for at least a half hour. You owe that to yourself. Start setting small milestones and goals that you can and will hold yourself to reach. I promise that as soon as you start incorporating things in your day that you know fill you with joy, that sunken and dull view of the world drastically changes back to even bolder, brighter and better colors. 

You have no idea what’s in store in your life and health, all it takes is a little and daily effort. New Year, New You will be well on it’s way. New Beginnings is what life is all about, after all.


Need a helping hand? Check out the links below for planners and self-help books. The possibilities of your growth are endless. 

IKIGAI, The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life: BOOK

The Mountain is You: BOOK 

Getting Back to Happy: BOOK

The Five Minute Journal: JOURNAL

One Line a Day: JOURNAL

The Power of Now: BOOK

Infinite Possibilities: BOOK

Atomic Habits: BOOK

101 Essays to Change the Way You Think: BOOK

Happy + Healthy: PLANNER

How to Manifest: EBOOK/GUIDE

High Vibe Vision: PLANNER

Blogilates (Pilates) Glow Up Session: GUIDE/CHALLENGE