There will not be a single usage of the quote ‘New year, New me’ in this piece. (Apart from that one time…) 2024 should be a continuation of your personal growth and a little celebration of that person you have nurtured all year long.

Do we really want to start from the beginning? Do we need to? Starting new goals at the beginning of the year can be a motivation for some but for others (myself included) it can be daunting to think of January as the starting line. Not realising we are already running the race. 

Following a month of festive chaos and consumerism fatigue - it seems illogical to put this societal pressure on a single month of the year. January shouldn't be about diet culture it should be a time for us to take a breath.

The biggest hurdle is creating time for yourself without the accompaniment of guilt. The uninvited guest we struggle to shake. We have to remind ourselves that self-care isn't a selfish act. Nor is a cheeky glass of wine after a long day. We oftentimes categorise self-care as a lengthy task and in reality, these self-care moments can be as small as you need them to be and yet they can still positively impact your day. Do what works for you.

Is it an occasional soak in the tub? Is it 1 chapter of a book after the kids have fallen asleep? Maybe it's a Sunday walk listening to a podcast?

I originally began this piece with a different intention and direction in mind. I was initially collating a list of ‘self-improvement’ and ‘healthy habits to implement in 2024. But it would have been disingenuous of me. After being sold indulgence over the holidays the last thing I would want to read is tips on how to have a healthy start to the year. Let's silence the noise and shift our mindset.

This exercise isn't about banning goals and not envisioning your year ahead. But let us not start running as soon as that whistle blows. As they say - ‘slow and steady wins the race’ (I had to get at least one cliche quote in there).