Do you ever feel like it’s so hard to start those new years resolutions that you swear you're going to start January 1st? And then it becomes January 2nd, then the 5th and then suddenly you’re 2 weeks into the year and those goals aren’t in motion. I think we’ve all been there, and I also think we’re all tired of it. Depending on one day out of the whole year to “start fresh” isn’t motivating, it’s a huge ball on anxiety. Thats why this year im starting now, in October, and so are a bunch of people using this technique called “winter arc”.
So, what is the Winter ARC all about? It stands for Align, Reflect, Create. First up, Align. Are your goals still resonating with you, or have they become a bit stale? Consider writing in a journal to clarify your intentions for the new year. Think about what you want to achieve in the coming months, whether it’s a personal goal or a new career path, an exciting vacation? Where do you want to be in 6 months, write down the steps you’d like to take to get to that place.
Next, Reflect. When you look back on the past year, what lessons have you learned? What challenges have shaped you? Reflecting during this time and embracing the experiences that have made you who you are is so beneficial. Asking yourself if you’ve enjoyed your life the last year is sometimes hard to do.. If you had goals that you didn’t achieve, if you didn’t work hard enough, or maybe it wasn’t in the timeline, maybe it’s time to see if those goals are even still something you want. Something brand new could be in your future if you talk to yourself about what really matters and how it could better your day to day life. Something I love to do is create a vision boards that highlights your achievements and dreams, providing a visual roadmap for the future. Making it a fun activity and something more spur of the moment rather than a huge deal on December 27 when you suddenly remember you need to make a vision board. Setting up your goals further in advanced is going to help you to work towards it for a longer amount of time and see it come true more effectively.
Now, it’s time to Create. And this doesn’t mean just a DIY project, it means actually DOING. Is there a workout class you’ve been dying to take, or have you been wanting to start going on walks in the morning before your work day begins. If it is a DIY project you’ve been wanting to do for a while, or a book you’ve been wanting to read, a sweater you started knitting that’s half done sitting in the corner of your closet, DO IT. Even if this means having a conversation that you’ve been meaning to have with someone, sitting in your mind waiting for the “right time” but really you’re just procrastinating. That’s what starts now.
So, why not embrace the Winter ARC? I am.