Raise your hand if you’ve ever set new year resolutions only to drop off after a few weeks. I’ll wait.
Guess what? You’re not alone, girlfriend. I’ve bee there. Shoot, we’ve all been there. And it’s totally okay if you set some new resolutions for this year. Whether you have or you haven’t, today’s post is for you because no matter what you want to accomplish in your life, I want you to accomplish it and I have a pretty strong feeling intentions are for you.
INTENTIONS VS. RESOLUTIONS
What they are & why you need ’em.
So you’re probably asking yourself, “Okay, but what is the difference?” – am I right? Let me break it down.
Resolution: a firm decision to do or not to do something.
Intention: a thing intended; an aim or plan.
And now you’re probably asking me, “Lauren – why would I prefer to aim for something rather than to make a firm decision to do something?”. I got you, girl. For most people, they set a resolution to stop doing, do more of, change this, accomplish that, etc. Although the root of those resolutions is well-intended, the follow-through and the execution can get a little muddled. Mainly because we haven’t truly identified our WHY. And your WHY is the thing that probably plays the biggest role in creating an intention.
Understanding your WHY
If you know me or if you’ve read any of my posts about motivation you’ve probably heard me talk about your WHY. This is the baseline for doing anything. Why do you want to do it? Why do you want to stop doing it? What is fueling your rationale? This is the thing that grounds you back to your goal – and it’s important.
Regardless of what your intentions will be for the new year, the thing that matters most is why you’re setting forth to make the change in the first place. And, spoiler, it needs to be very personal. It can’t be based on what someone else thinks you should do or what’s trending among your family and friends. Your why should be exactly that – yours.
How to create an intention
If an intention is all about aiming or planning, then that’s what I want you to do for 2021. What is it that you plan to accomplish this year and beyond? Who do you aim to be? What do you hope for? What do you want for yourself? What will make you the happiest version of yourself? And, most importantly, what will help you thrive the most?
These are all questions that will not only help you figure out and understand your WHY but they’re questions that need to be answered so you can create actual intentions. And once you have your answers, start thinking about the things that need to happen to make them a reality. Those are the intentions I want you to set.
For example, if you have a goal to develop healthier habits this year, rather than setting a resolution to develop healthier habits in 2021, your intentions might look something like this:
I plan to create and implement a schedule to drink more water throughout the day.
I plan to join a virtual workout program with a friend and participate in some form of physical activity five days/week.
I plan to be in bed by 10pm every night so I can get at least seven hours of restful sleep.
MY 2021 INTENTIONS
Some real-life examples from me to you.
Intention no. 1: I plan to eat a more nutrient dense, balanced diet free of gluten and other foods that I have a sensitivity to. I aim to try new foods, incorporate more veggies into each meal and get more creative with my weekly meal prep.
Intention no. 2: I plan to prioritize rest and finding a new way to handle stress. I aim to be in bed every night by 9pm with a book, turning all screens off. I aim to get at least seven hours of sleep every night. I plan to start every morning with 10 minutes of stretching or meditation.
I plan to spend 30 minutes every day listening to an audio book or podcast.
I plan to be active and move my body for 30 minutes every single day.
LONG STORY SHORT – INTEND TO BE A BADASS THIS YEAR
If it only it was that simple. Wait…is it. My homework for you is to write down a list of five things you plan/intend to do this year that will bring you closer to your goals. Rather than making a blanket statement of losing weight or getting a promotion, make a list of how you plan to make those things happen – and then make a freaking plan to get it done. You got this girl. I believe in you.
