Intentional Grace In The New Year

The start of a new year often brings a sense of joy, motivation, and possibility. As an entrepreneur and life coach balancing work, wedding planning, and wellness goals, I know firsthand the excitement and stress the beginning of a year can bring.

With my birthday this month as well, January is always a reflective period for me. I feel immense gratitude for the opportunity to usher in another year of dreams and goals pursued. Rather than making lofty resolutions that quickly fall by the wayside, I’m focusing on small, sustainable changes that both honor and nurture my holistic health and well-being in 2024. This is grace. 

The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough. — Rabindranath Tagore

Intentional Grace in Practice

With grace in mind, I want to share four simple practices I’m incorporating into my daily routine:

Making Time for Me

Carving out 30 minutes daily for activities like journaling, stretching, or sipping a cup of tea may sound trivial, but it makes a world of difference. This small act of self-care helps me destress, reflect, and recharge — priming me to show up as my best self in all areas of life. 

Planning Realistically

With many priorities competing for my time, staying organized is key. I plan my days and weeks with a pen and a daily planner, which I use to carefully schedule obligations and times for my primary job, business, marriage planning, self-care, fun, and rest. When I plan well, and sometimes even when I do not, I realize that I can easily invite and sometimes delegate tasks to others to allow me to focus on my strengths. Setting clear priorities, acknowledging assistance, and sticking to them helps me avoid burnout and feel less frenzied.

Staying Hydrated

When back-to-back meetings or wedding planning have me feeling extended, I consciously drink more water. Even mild dehydration can zap energy and mood. Keeping my water bottle handy is an easy way to fuel my mind and body.

Practicing Grace

As eager as I am to achieve my goals this year, trust me, I have tons; I know unrealistic expectations won’t serve me. I aim to meet targets while still making space for downtime, flexibility, and understanding when life happens. With self-compassion as my guide rather than perfectionism, I create an uplifting space to build the life I want, one small step at a time.

For some reason, we feel we should be perfect and forget that we learn through our mistakes. - Susan Jeffers

Being intentional with my time and self-care allows me to run a growing business, plan an exciting wedding this year, spend time with my family and friends, and support others on their journeys. As a life coach, I’m here to listen to, encourage, and empower my clients, from individuals, teams, and organizations, to nurture their health and lead lives true to their values. It is only fitting that I authentically share my journey with you. Explore more self-care tips here. 

If you could use some extra support sticking to New Year’s resolutions or making desired changes in your life, I invite you to explore how life coaching may help. Wishing everyone a phenomenal 2024!

Share Your Thoughts

Join the conversation on the transformative power of intentional grace. Let's reimagine people-centered workplaces where everyone profits - personally and professionally. 

What small, intentional changes are you making in 2024 to nurture your personal grace as you pursue your goals? Share your thoughts below. Let's inspire each other on this journey of intentional grace to ourselves.