You won’t find any resolutions here

Actually, I do know what day it is. It’s Sunday. I know that because I’m sending this email and I send it (usually) on a Sunday. I’m actually writing this well in advance, having signed off before Christmas and planning this into the email sending system (definitely the technical name for it) for Sunday the 29th!

I do hope in real life I’ve lost track of all days and have managed to completely switch off from normal ‘doing’, although I very much doubt I will have switched off from my normal morning routine. I love it and want to keep it, although I imagine the alarm clock may have been switched off, allowing my body to wake at its preferred hour, which I also imagine is not much later than the alarm time these days anyway, what with being an older fart! (Which I completely love—not complaining.)

How are you all doing? I really hope you’re having an enjoyable time. I also hope you’ve managed to have some time on your own away from tons of humans. Or is that just me? I know it’s not really!

I completely love being around people. It gives me real energy, but I absolutely need my own space, and if you’ve been here for long, you know I absolutely love moving my body, so I’ll have been chomping at the bit for my gym to open. Well, if you really know me, you’ll know I won’t have been chomping at the bit, I’ll have been hotfooting it round my local roads on my walk or run, or if it’s really freezing and rainy, I’ll have a few sweaty sessions on my Watt Bike under my belt (who am I kidding wearing a belt between xmas and new year) or walking at a good speed on my treadmill with something lovely in my ears.

Anyway, this is rambly, but this time of year I feel we should be rambly and fairly unfocused. It’s a naturally quieter period of time for most people, a bit of a pause. It’s naturally a time where we all reflect more isn’t it?

Wonderfully nowadays, I don’t feel the pressure for New Year to be anything out of this world which is GREAT. I feel I want it to be as cosy and calm as possible (although last year I planned for that to happen and danced into the early hours at a friend’s house. It was what I wanted. I just didn’t know it before I got there!)

So I hope you’re all feeling good?

It’s a funny old time of year, isn’t it? A mix of overindulgence maybe… More rest than normal, and maybe starting to consider what comes next. That whole New Year, New Me thing starting to rear its head far too often on the old socials. People somehow suggesting you need to reinvent your entire existence before January 1st.

Soz to break it to you if you’re hoping for that here, but I’m totally not up for that, and I don’t think you should be either. I think ‘you’ as you are is pretty wonderful already. We just need to really allow that true you to come through—that’s the bit I’m here for!

And on that, I want to discuss resolutions because I’m really not a fan, and I’ll tell you for why.

Resolutions come from something external, whether that be expectations, pressure, or a whole bunch of ‘shoulds’ coming from elsewhere. Wherever their origin - they aren’t helpful IMO.

Real change, the kind we really want, real fulfilment, comes from what drives YOU. I prefer to start the year with intentions—they are the fellas that come from deep inside you. They are intentions to become the person you want to become, to live the life you want to live, to feel the way you want to feel, and to make changes that reflect all of these things so you really can enjoy not only 2025 but the rest of your life, despite any challenges that will inevitably come along.

Let’s move into 2025 with the intention to do so with regulated nervous systems, making us feel the inner peace we crave so badly, the health, energy, and resilience we know will carry us through this life in a way we truly enjoy. How lovely an intention is that? Powerful and totally achievable too.

Let’s please not get tied up in toxic resolutions where we promise to change our lives and feel like we’re failing at the first hurdle. We aren’t—the resolutions just weren’t ours in the first place.

Take some time to really think about how you want to think and feel, and the life you want to create, and start setting some real intentions. I’ll help you with some small steps now, and then I’ll leave you to it, to enjoy the rest of these lazy days—or in my world, days where I get to choose to be lazy and probably don’t!

As they say these days, you do you, and I really mean that too.

Here goes… Some Practical Steps to Start Your Intentions

Reflect on times you felt real inner peace, flow, or even joy in life. Think back on times this year when you felt alive, completely connected, and at ease. Write them down. Recognise these weren’t just lucky; those were moments when your nervous system felt safe. What were you doing? Where were you? Who were you with? Ask yourself how you can create more of that.

Plan intentional, small, safe steps. Real growth, the kind where it’s sustainable from the inside out, comes from taking small, manageable action steps that feel good and are possible. Have big goals, yes, absolutely, but don’t plan big, terrifying leaps. Do it incrementally. What’s one small thing you can add to your life that feels nourishing—like you are moving forward?

Sensory rituals (I’m not being all wellness world—the nervous system needs sensory input to ‘show’ it is safe).Light a candle, or create nice calm lighting if that’s not your thing, put on music you love, grab a comforting warm drink, and let your thoughts flow onto the page. Freewrite. This helps calm your nervous system while you reflect. You’ll be astounded by the gold that flows from that nib!

Focus on what to add, not take away. Let 2025 be about adding more of what makes you feel ALIVE, whether that’s more time in nature, more movement you enjoy, more connection with people, loved ones, new ones, whatever…. or more quiet moments just for you.

This is your one life. Here’s where you choose to make it even more so.

Have a gorgeous start to 2025. Hope I get to spend lots of it with you!