Can you believe we’re already nearly halfway through May? This year has been flying by for our team, and we’ve heard that a lot of other people are feeling the same way. As the pace of life picks back up, it’s easy to get in the groove without looking back. But a little retrospection can actually serve you well. Specifically, now is a great time to look back on your New Year’s intentions (or resolutions — or whatever you called your goals for 2021).
Revisiting your intentions
It’s time to dig out that list of intentions, resolutions, or goals you set for this year. Now that we’re a good chunk of the way through the year, you can get a lot out of thinking about where you stand with each intention you set.
If you haven’t made any progress
Don’t stress! That’s the whole point of this exercise. It’s all too easy to totally forget our intentions/resolutions until next December. The problem is that most of us don’t really stick too solidly with things once the new year starts (most people ditch their resolutions by February 1).
By checking back in now, you get the chance to start fresh BEFORE the end of 2021, when it would be pretty easy to feel discouraged about how little progress you made this year. Plus, you might have more energy or focus now. After the holiday season, a lot of us are pretty exhausted. It’s a challenging time to try to start shifting things in our lives.
Now, though, you have the benefit of summer approaching, which should hopefully mean more time to relax, recharge, and (you guessed it) focus on your intentions.
To help yourself hold your intentions more closely, consider looping in a friend and asking them to check up on your intentions every once in a while. This kind of accountability can motivate you to stay the course, plus your friend can help you remember your intention throughout the rest of the year.
If you’re moving forward but still have work to do
Kudos, friend! When you set your intention in December, you did so to improve your life. Are you seeing the benefits of your intention start to show themselves?
Any intention-setting is a long game. So whatever’s worked to help you maintain your intention so far, keep at it. Maintaining any habits that have helped you so far can support you through the remaining part of the year.
At the same time, if your intention starts to feel too taxing, don’t be afraid to take a break every now and then. You’ve been working hard and you deserve a breather!
If you don’t like your intention anymore
The great thing about intentions is that they can evolve with us! If the intention you set back in December no longer serves you, don’t be afraid to change it up. Ultimately, the whole point of setting New Year’s intentions is to help yourself lead your healthiest, best life. So if a new intention would be better now, give yourself the freedom to make that change.
New Year’s intentions — or any intention that you hold for an extended period of time — can be a great way to refocus and help yourself grow. But you don’t have to do that self-work alone. Our Ventura Counseling & Wellness Center team of therapists is here to support you! If you’d like to learn more about our services, don’t hesitate to contact us.
