We are all familiar with the slogan: “New Year, new me!” But how often do we follow through on this declaration—or any of our New Year’s resolutions? Turning a new page and wiping the slate clean when the calendar resets can be tantalizing, but taking a measured approach may be more rewarding.
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We are all familiar with the slogan: “New Year, new me!” But how often do we follow through on this declaration—or any of our New Year’s resolutions? Turning a new page and wiping the slate clean when the calendar resets can be tantalizing, but taking a measured approach may be more rewarding.
After the excitement of the holidays, we brace ourselves for dreary weather and search for something to raise us up. Instead of setting lofty and unrealistic goals, we can reach for something more attainable. Maybe we just need to take a beat and create a renewed sense of balance.
We can embrace the upcoming season’s transformational energy to foster the positivity and potential that come from resting and digesting. If we welcome the winter season with intention, we can create a refrain that inspires us to set achievable goals. We can use this slow and quiet season to shift into a renewed sense of purpose and passion.
1. Balance
Seasons help us remember that life is cyclical and balanced between stages of action and stillness. Cultivating this balance could mean allowing yourself more time to reflect and contemplate. Winter is a great time to replenish our creative reserves and let ideas germinate.
In a world that determines our value by our productivity, it can be hard to justify taking a break. Yet, the overwhelming popularity of a Lawrence University class called “Doing Nothing” this past year suggests a significant need for people seeking to recalibrate their lives to learn how to relax and unplug.
Creating a balanced life is an everyday practice that can be boosted by anything from meditating to mountain biking—or swinging silently in a silk hammock.
2. Mindfulness
By practicing mindfulness, we embrace the present moment without judgment. Last year’s woes and wins belong to the past. And next year’s trials and triumphs belong to the realm of the unknown. If we accept each moment as it is, it won’t matter if it’s gray and snowy or bright and balmy outside. It’s more about the forecast inside ourselves.
We can also be mindful of our digital lives. Have you ever tried going somewhere without your phone? If that makes you nervous, you are not alone. A smartphone addiction survey last year revealed that 99.2% of users show some level of fear and anxiety if they accidentally leave their phones behind.
It’s worth examining how you use your devices—and how much they control your time, decisions and attention. Digital device-free zones at spas are becoming more popular, and it’s worth it to test out what an unplugged life feels like for yourself. No one is asking you to ditch your phone, but you might be amazed to see how liberating it is not to be controlled by it.
3. Gratitude
Research from "The Science of Gratitude via The Greater Good Science Center" (S., Allen, May 2018) at UC Berkeley suggests that people who feel and express gratitude are happier, more satisfied with their lives, less materialistic and less likely to suffer burnout.
Gratitude practices—like keeping a gratitude journal or writing a letter of thanks—can increase happiness and overall positive mood. One Miraval Arizona specialist who teaches a Gifts of Gratitude class says that, “When you act, speak or write with a focus on gratitude, it activates reward centers in the brain and decreases our stress responses.”
Other studies suggest that gratitude may boost resilience and can even be contagious, inspiring people to reciprocate and encouraging other good qualities in ourselves, such as patience, humility and wisdom.
4. Embrace the Outdoors
Don’t underestimate the power of the great outdoors to give you a boost any time of year. More time outside improves moods, lowers stress and combats loneliness. Even if you only get out occasionally, the American Psychological Association says that your sense of connection with nature contributes to happiness, even when you’re not physically immersed in it.
At Miraval properties, we offer classes that help bring the outdoors inside, and these can contribute to your at-home behaviors, too. You can grow microgreens inside and, within weeks, have nutritious, delicious greens sprouting and within reach for your winter dishes. If you can’t “bathe” in the forest, you can bring the woodland home with a potted plant, fresh-cut flowers—or even an imaginary garden in your mind’s eye. If you do this regularly, you can train yourself to focus on nature every single day.
An old Chinese proverb for renewing positive energy says, “Put a green tree in your heart and let the singing bird come.” When we create natural spaces for good things to arrive, we increase the chance that they will.
5. Cozy Winter Cooking
Whenever I entertain at home, I’ve noticed that everyone flocks to the kitchen, regardless of its size or seating capabilities. Something about the aromas of a simmering meal reconnects us to our friends and communities.
One of our chefs often reminds me that we should connect how we eat to the seasons and eat rich, warm foods when it’s cold and dry in the winter. Eating seasonally helps us feel balanced and connected with the cycles of nature.
Using aromas, herbs, spices and tunes set a tone that caters to your senses. Prep time gives us meditative motions of peeling, chopping, dicing and sauteing. If we can settle into winter’s pace, we can enjoy our meals slowly and mindfully to savor the experience.
6. New Skills and Hobbies
Research says that learning a new skill can help you make new connections, adapt better to change and renew your interest in and excitement for life.7
Stepping into a space outside our comfort zone pushes us to try out new forms of expression, whether it’s artistic, musical, movement-based or culinary. When I want to stretch my creative muscle, I take classes as vehicles for discovery instead of skill mastery. I have been lucky enough to work at a place that lets me try out different methods—from repairing pottery to painting horses—to learn more about myself, how I express thoughts and feelings or how I face challenges.
We can renew our sense of wonder and see the world with fresh eyes. Especially when we feel that post-holiday depletion, we can restore our curiosity and observe ourselves and the world through a new lens.
Dina Fenili Niekamp brings more than 15 years of hospitality experience to her role as associate vice president of sales, marketing & brand at Miraval Resorts. She works to drive consumer awareness of the brand and spearheads marketing and communications efforts across all three properties.
