We’ve made a resolution to make ‘no resolutions’ in 2022! Many of us start a new year with great intentions, and unfortunately, they often fall by the wayside. Instead of feeling good about other achievements, we can often feel bad and like we have failed before the year has really even started.
We’ve come across a great idea that could help us all enjoy the year a little bit more, and help to reflect back on your year in a helpful way. It’s pretty simple – we could bottle all the best bits of 2022! All you need to do is:
- Get a big jar – decorate it if you like, or leave it plain.
- Get some small pieces of paper – coloured if you like – or folded up sticky-notes.
- Every time something good happens – write it down – fold it up and put it in the jar.
- Think broadly about your ‘good’ things – it could be a little thing (something funny one of your children says, noticing birds splashing in a puddle, enjoying a new novel) right through to something big like a major life achievement. You may have the best latte of your life – write that down and put it in the jar! You may really enjoy driving a new car, or finally finish some study you’ve been doing. A friend or family member may have a big life celebration – put it all in the jar!
This could be a solo jar or a family/ work colleagues / social group jar. You could also start it whenever you like. Close to the end of the year – empty out your jar and enjoy reliving those moments. It’s a pretty simple but lovely way to reflect and reminisce about the year.
Other ways to reflect on your new year –
- Make a list of things that you are looking forward to in the coming year. Most of us are happier anticipating an event, experience or activity. We build up good memories of whatever it is – but the joy is in the anticipation as this is where the dopamine is involved! Have big things and little things on your list – maybe you could make a family list together?
- Learn one new word each week and aim to use it in your vocabulary. If you’ve got a favourite word, find alternatives for it to use instead. An example is the word ‘awesome!’. You could use breathtaking, astounding, majestic, or sublime instead! You can even lookup some ‘old fashioned’ words and use them! It’s bound to generate some great conversations. Take a look at this list here – we absolutely love the word ‘groke’ which means to ‘stare at someone intently while they are eating in the hope they will give you some food’.
- Start a reading journal! Instead of feeling pressure to read a certain amount of books per year, create a journal with books that you have read and/or listened to in 2022. Note down your favourite parts of the book, what you would change, how you picture the characters, and people you can think of that you could recommend the book to. You can also include audiobooks and podcasts that you have listened to. At the end of the year, you might have 5 titles or 365 titles in there, but you will have a lovely record of the titles that got you through 2022.
January Recommendations
We are reading – The Joy of Small Things
Hannah Jane Parkinson is a specialist in savouring the small pleasures of life. She revels in her fluffy dressing gown, finds calm in solo cinema trips, is charmed by the personalities of fonts, celebrates pockets and gleefully abandons a book she isn’t enjoying. This lovely book is available to borrow as an e-book on BorrowBox.
We are listening to – The Space
Welcome to The Space, a mindfulness podcast that’s not like the others. Join Casey Donovan on a mini escape each morning and evening with short meditations, motivations and tips on how to improve your day. Casey’s voice is calming and a divine way to start and finish your day. Each episode is only a few minutes long and is written by wellness expert Amy Molloy.
January Dates –
- Australia Day – 26th Jan
Extra Support
The opinions and recommendations in this blog do not replace advice from your doctor or mental health practitioner. If you feel like you need further support, you can access many free mental health helplines, support websites, online counselling, web forums, interactive toolkits, one-on-one counselling and group therapy sessions. Please visit the Better Health website for a comprehensive list of services.
Mental Wellbeing at MYLI
The Healthier Habits blog is adapted from the Myli – My Community Library employee ‘Page Break’ program. Page Break is an initiative from our Manager Volunteers & Community Participation, Kathie Olden. Kathie sends out regular updates to staff inviting them to participate in simple activities and conversation starters that focus on making small changes to their mental health and wellbeing.
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