Every year begins with seething excitement for new beginnings and resolutions. This refreshing narrative surrounding the New Year has left this celebration polarised. Some choose to believe in setting renewed goals for the year, whilst others perceive it as a pro-formative display. However, regardless of opinions the age old expression “new year, new me” persists.
Although the phrase is indeed overused, have any of us stopped to ask what ‘new year, new me’ really means? Forget the societal stigmatisation, and really think about what the phrase means to you. For some, this restorative time may prompt creating a 2023 vision board, list of goals, and manifestations. These practices allow us to reflect on the past and analyse what worked, what didn’t, and how we can move forward. They provide context from past knowledge and experiences we learned from in order to consciously create present and prosperous lives.
Now I know what the skeptics out there are thinking, this doesn’t work, lists on pieces of paper won’t magically change my life – and yes, in a way, you’re right. Lists, vision boards, and manifestations mean nothing without the will power and diligence to stick to them. However, these lists can provide spaces for us to stop and look beyond the present moment to build better habits for the future.
Reflecting back on 2022, it was quite a year. Tik Tok became a staple to everyday life, flared leggings resurfaced, influencer marketing took businesses to new heights, platform UGGs became a fad, the skincare market grew and is expected to continue expanding 11.1% by 2028 and Wordle topped the global online game charts. While social media’s influence is driving many of these trends, we can expect to see more content creators pushing personal messages across all media platforms.
For instance, popular messages included “fit-tok”, the fitness and wellness side of Tik Tok, displaying “how to” gym videos and progression posts. Following this theme was the shift in focus to health in general: eating cleaner, finding sustainable food sources, and eating for your body type. With these narratives came positives and negatives. It destigmatised the prioritisation of individual health and wellness, while also promoting methods that may not be useful or applicable to all people. Nevertheless, health became an overarching theme for 2022 as the world continues to bounce back from previous years’ events.
Therefore, with the 2022 year coming to a close, let’s discuss what sentiments we should keep and or get rid of moving into 2023.
Keepers:
- Relinquishment of self-doubt: say goodbye to negativity and start the year with positivity in your favor
- Prioritising your personal health, fitness and “self-care”
- Minimised screen time
- “Hot girl” walks
- Shoulder bags
- Drinking more water
- Reading for 30 minutes
- Listening to podcasts
- Giving compliments
- Telling someone you appreciate them/their company
Leavers:
- Fearing Change
- People pleasing
- Platform Uggs
- Self-criticism
- Your lingering situationship
- Comparing yourself to others
- Dwelling on the past
- Overthinking
- “Doom Scrolling” though your feed
- Scarcity Mindset: “I’ll never do _____”, “I can’t _____”, “There’s no good _____”.
Let’s start the year right, because we all know the last one was a whirlwind. Happy New Year from all of us as HC St Andrews! Wishing you nothing but joy, prosperity and high energy in 2023.