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Where Will You Put Your Energy in 2022?

Walking path through the woods with a glorious sunrise at the end of the path.

Where Will You Put Your Energy in 2022?

What if…instead of setting New Year’s resolutions, which are a list of goals, we reflect on achievements of 2021 and set our intentions for 2022?

It’s not helpful to think about what you have not achieved – it is important to give ourselves credit for what we have accomplished, especially through the last two particularly hard years. 

You may think to yourself, “I haven’t achieved anything; I failed.” This may initially feel and sound true. I’m not a betting person, but I would venture that’s not true.

Where Will You Put Your Energy in 2022? - back view of a happy woman raises her arms in success against a golden sunset on the horizon of a body of water.

Achievements come in a range of sizes. Some small achievements that you might not think of:

  • Listening to a friend and offering your support (even just in listening!)
  • Moving a piece of furniture that frequently tripped you a little more out of the way
  • You learned something
  • Enjoyed a meal with a loved one, even if via Zoom
  • Engaged with another human without distractions (TV, phone)

Give yourself credit for what you have done to help set intentions for the year to come. Sometimes our ego, negative self-narrative, lack of self-worth, and critical voices get in the way. This moment – the moment of hearing the critiques, negative thoughts from the past – is the most beneficial time to reflect on achievements so you can keep moving forward. Staying in the negative thoughts increases the risk for inertia of those thoughts and not taking action.

Help Yourself Feel Accomplished

  1. Have faith in the process
  2. Let go of stress surrounding your goals
  3. Take action on what you have control over

Reflect to Provide Direction

A young woman in thought is looking out of her window while holding a cup of coffee.

Reflecting on what went well and your achievements in 2021. This information guides you on where you’d like to put your energy in 2022.

Categories to reflect on:

  • Health check
  • Preventative care
  • Reduce risk of injury – For example, since I have low vision, I consider ways to make my day easier by setting my apartment up in a way to reduce the risk of injury, or setting up my desk space to improve my posture.
  • Heal from injury/surgery
  • Movement   
  • Fun 
  • Personal achievements 
  • Professional achievements 
  • Giving back – spent time listening to someone who needed your support
  • What did you do to make life a little easier for yourself?

After reflecting on my own achievements in 2021, this is an example of what I will be putting my energy into in 2022:

Movement: So far, I have purchased walking/hiking poles. When hiking I will use walking poles to maximize my exercise by using my arms when hiking, stabilizing my balance (4 legs is always better than 2! As a 45 year old, I want to make sure my balance is good as I age), As a person with low vision, I currently do not use a white cane. Using walking poles would give me navigation skills in case my vision declines.

Find What Grounds You

It doesn’t matter what phase of life you are in, find something that grounds you to make your day easier. For me, meal planning is something that grounds me knowing I have healthy food available, and that I take care of myself helps me take on the day.

Focus on the Present Moment

Letting go of attachments from the past allows us to focus on the present moment. By focusing on the present moment, we have a clear mind to make realistic changes. 

“We gotta lotta livin to do before we die and we ain’t got no time to waste”

~Nina Simone

Letting Go

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Shame Piñata podcast focuses on shared stories of rites of passage for real-life transitions. The episode I was featured in, I shared about My Last Drive, a story of taking a change and flowing with it on my own terms. Check out this recently released podcast interview featuring me!

To learn about creating your own meal planning system to simplify healthy eating, and get support to meet health goals, schedule a free one-on-one Nutrition for Wellness Strategy Session. 

To receive meal planning tips, recipe ideas, and learn about meal planning events,  join my email list: https://quickanddelish.ck.page/sneakpeek.

Cheers to your health,

By Alicia Connor, MA Registered Dietitian Nutritionist & Chef

Author Bio:

Alicia Connor a pretty brunette with short-cropped hair wearing a denim jacket with a white tee.
Alicia Connor

Alicia Connor is a registered dietitian nutritionist and chef who lives in San Francisco. She is passionate about healthy cooking, with a focus on simplifying meal planning and making healthy eating easier. Alicia built a successful career as a chef, working at one of the top restaurants in San Francisco. But as her vision declined due to a hereditary condition, she decided to focus on a career with longevity and returned to school to become a dietitian.

Description of image:

  • Walking path through the woods with a glorious sunrise at the end of the path.
  • Life achievement – back view of a happy woman raises her arms in success against a golden sunset on the horizon of a body of water.
  • A young woman in thought is looking out of her window while holding a cup of coffee.
  • Author photo: Alicia Connor a pretty brunette with short-cropped hair wearing a denim jacket with a white tee.
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