Happy New Year 2023!!

Happy New Year, everyone!

Thank you, dear readers, for supporting this blog all these years. As we enter a new year, words fall short to describe the feelings. With the turn of the clock, I wish you all nothing but happiness!

May this year bring with it a new hope, a new ray of light. The last couple of years have been some of the toughest ones for a lot of us. Yet, in spite of all odds, we persevered. We stood strong. We faced odds. Some of us were alone, others were with their near and dear ones. What is important is to acknowledge that whatever happened, we were able to overcome it. We were able to see through it all. Now that the new year is upon us, we all can take a break to breathe, to feel the emotions, to revel in the little joys of life. We all deserve a big hug from our own selves.

For as long as a lot of us can remember, New Year celebrations have been associated with New Year Resolutions. Sound familiar? Those little promises that we make to ourselves but find it hard to keep up? It will be fair to assume that stories about not keeping up with resolutions, or the number of days we keep them before we can’t, becomes a really funny story to tell at social gatherings. This time around too you, dear reader, should brace yourself to be a part of one such story.

Why do we make resolutions? The reasons for this may differ from one person to another. For some, it is a way to course-correct themselves. For some, it is to avoid FOMO (fear of missing out). For some, it could be a way to see if they can really stick to a certain decision, however trivial or big that decision may be.

When we ‘resolve’ stick to a decision or a choice, we are essentially self-talking with ourselves. Our day-to-day lives are filled with some really tough moments that take a toll over us. Over time, this toll adds up and intensifies. In order to deal with the hardships of the mundane life, we tend to seek solace in distractions. The distractions can be anything: sleeping in late, waking up late, poor dietary control, consumption of addictive and toxic substances (drugs, cigarettes, alcohol etc.), binge watching etc. We choose anything that would help us in dulling the pain of the regular life. These distractions are oftentimes harmful for us. Partaking in these distractions puts our minds and bodies on a negative trajectory. There is a voice inside all of us that tells us to stop, to not continue partaking in these distractions but we end up silencing it. A turn of the year is the perfect time for us to reflect on the trajectory that we have put ourselves on. Thus, new year resolutions are more of a way to set ourselves on our ideal path, whatever that path we choose for ourselves.

Some of the common new year resolutions are:

• Working out: This one clearly needs to top the list of resolutions. With an increase in sedentary lifestyles, working out has become more important than ever.

• Eating well: Our control over our dietary choices is way more easily achievable than the consistency in working out. After all, good health begins in the kitchen.

• Waking up early/ sleeping on time/ having a sleep schedule: Loss of sleep in the biggest cost that our bodies have paid in exchange for the screen time. Prolonged exposure to screens has prevents us from enjoying a healthy sleep, a crucial element to mental recovery. While we cannot control our screen exposure (because of the lives we lead), we can determine when to switch off in order to wake up rejuvenated every day.

• Developing a good habit/ getting rid of bad habit: Habits are replaceable. Our upbringing, social circles and other factors may have led us to fall into the trap of certain bad habits. We may even feel that we are not able to get rid of them. However, the good news is that habits are replaceable. We can get rid of bad habits by developing a good one. Thus, these two resolutions go hand-in-hand. In case you feel that you are unable to get rid of anything detrimental to your mind and body, do remember that help is available.

• Reading regularly: This one clearly would rank as one of the most undervalued resolutions. The only other resolution which is as undervalued as this is the next one.

• Journaling daily: Only those who write their thoughts regularly can truly understand the enormous impact it has on our mental well-being. We can read and write about the benefits of this activity as much as we want, but we will be able to appreciate it only when we really start doing so.

Whatever be your resolution this year, or the motivation to have a resolution, I wish you all the strength from the universe to see it through. There is a part within you that knows that you are on the right track. All you need to do is to make your mind strong enough to see it through. In this year, may you get the gifts of perseverance, determination and discipline.

Wishing you all once again a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

What is your resolution for this year? Why did you make it? Do write to share your resolution story.