New year, new you

The second “Auld Lang Syne” comes on, many of us start doing it—thinking about all the things we want to do, change, and improve in the new year. But before we cannonball into 2023, isn’t it nice to take some time to reflect on the year coming to an end? 

What worked in 2022? What didn’t? What brought us joy? What could we leave behind?

With all the holiday craziness, it’s important to spend some quiet time appreciating both all that is and all that will be. Let’s start now!

—Lindsay

You’re Grounded…or at Least You Will Be

Some people swear by their meditation, mindfulness, and journaling practice. I’m one of those people.

It has shifted my perspective, helped me be open to new ideas, and generally brought me more peace and presence. All major developments, right? But believe it or not, they haven’t cost me a whole lot of time.

So today, let’s explore the low-lift ways you can get grounded before heading into a new year full of new possibilities.

Start small

All it takes is 10 or 15 minutes of journaling (whenever it works in your day) to get more in touch with your feelings and ideas. There are no rules—write down whatever feels right and remember that the only person you’re writing for is yourself. Some year-end thought-starters?

• How you’re feeling right now

• Some daily affirmations (specificity is great here!)

• Things that happened in your day or week

• Things, people, and situations you’re grateful for

• What you’re proud of from 2022

• What you’d like to see in the year ahead

And if meditation is more your style? That too can be easy peasy. Try a guided meditation on Youtube or Spotify to start. Like anything, these are practices that take, well, practice! I’m confident you’ll experience a quieter mind, even after just a few days.

Mindfulness = awareness

Being mindful can be an abstract concept, but when it comes down to it, it’s simply being aware and present. That can be tough, especially these days. But not impossible!

Start here: Try spending 10 minutes wherever you are—at work, at home, at church, at the market—and notice everything. What do you see, smell, hear, and pick up on?

Once you’re ready, level up with more mindfulness ideas like these. One of the first mindfulness practices I learned about was *mindfully* doing the dishes (stick with me here!). Next time you’re washing sticky pans, be fully with that activity. 

• Watch how the water cascades over the pan. 

• What is the temperature of the water? How does it feel on your hands? 

• What does the soap smell like? 

It sounds bananas, but being fully present while doing something as small as the dishes can bring peace to your life, plus open your mind to reflect on more important things, like “Wow—I am a really great mom with really great kids.”

And that’s how you set yourself up for gratitude, a present mind, and a stellar start to 2023. Because you’ve accomplished a lot—and you deserve to take a moment to recognize all that and more.

60 Seconds a Day to a Healthier You

Ready to dump all those pills and packets and upgrade your daily routine? Look no further than AG1 by Athletic Greens.

Why we love AG1:

• It’s full of 75 vitamins, minerals, and high-quality whole food-sourced ingredients

• Make it anywhere and take it on the go by mixing one scoop with cold water

• Supports your energy levels and gut health

Reclaim your health with AG1 today and enjoy a free welcome kit, a year’s supply of Vitamin D, 5 free travel packs, a flexible delivery schedule, and even a 60-day money-back guarantee. Check it out here.

Trend predictor. Don’t deny it…it’s fun to guess what will happen in the upcoming year. As the design dork who lives to know the Pantone color of the year, I also enjoyed this fashion #coloroftheyear prediction. 

Did they do it? Resolutions are a blast, whether you’re deeply dedicated to them or just having some fun. Let’s check on these celeb resolutions for 2022 and see if they made it happen.

The ultimate 2023 guide to organization. Pottery Barn is coming in strong with ideas to stick to resolutions on the homefront and hint: attitude is everything!

What a year it’s been! We are so honored that you invited us into your inbox. We’ve got one more message for you coming up before taking a little FamilyMade holiday break. See you back here on Friday!