The Ayurvedic Approach to the New Year
New Year, new beginning. It’s that time of year when we think about reinventing ourselves…….finally becoming that person who works out regularly, or the person who plans and meal preps healthy meals for the week. We resolve to make significant changes to our lives, our routines, our bodies, etc.
As well intentioned as these resolutions are, many of us know from experience that they often backfire. We get overwhelmed by so many abrupt shifts and changes, and end up feeling like a failure just days into the new year.
From an ayurvedic perspective, we often fail at our new year resolutions because we are approaching them in the wrong way - in a way that isn’t aligned with nature.
Our first mistake is that we approach the new year with a vision of radical shifts and changes without first starting with a solid foundation on which to build. Ayurveda approaches health and wellness from a place of stillness and deep nourishment. It’s no wonder that our resolutions fail when we jump into them in the middle of a holiday frenzy, when we have little stillness, and often times inadequate nourishment to support optimal health and wellness. Instead of jumping right into radical changes like hitting the gym hard, eliminating lots of foods from our diet, or making radical shifts to our daily routines, ayurveda suggests that we first take time to slow down from the holiday rush, settle into the stillness of the deep winter, and reflect on both our current experience of life, and our desired experience of life, and consider deep nourishment before we begin making any changes.
Our second mistake is that we try to implement all of these changes during the season of mobility, irregularity, and inconsistency. This is what ayurveda calls the vata time of year. This is the time of year when focus and energy are sporadic or lacking, and inconsistency is prevalent. Lack of focus, lack of energy, and lack of consistency are not ideal conditions for success when we are are approaching major changes in our lives. Now is not the time to be bursting forth with new ambitions and new life — spring is the time for that! Ayurveda views spring as the perfect time to implement changes that we want to stick. Where the energy of fall and winter is mobile and irregular, the energy of spring is stable and grounded, and this earthy energy serves you well when you are wanting to make big changes.
The ayurvedic approach to the new year is to gently guide yourself toward renewal - the way nature does. Nature doesn’t burst forth with new life starting January 1. She’s slow. She takes her time. She rests for the winter. She nourishes the deep roots. And we should do the same.
Instead of jumping right in to significant changes this new year, focus on these 4 Ayurvedic New Year Intentions to develop a solid foundation of stillness and nourishment from which to build.
Tend to your sleep
We are just coming off of a weeks long holiday marathon. We’ve stayed up past our bedtimes, we’ve gotten up early, we’ve slept late, and we’ve been inconsistent with our sleep. Focus and motivation are directly related to the quality of our sleep. As the holidays wind down, and winter’s chill sets in, its time to tend to your sleep. Establish a healthy sleep routine. Make sure you are in bed, ready for sleep by 10pm every night, and aim for 6-8 hours of sleep (everyone needs a slightly different amount of sleep to be at their best), and set a consistent wake up time (that you stick to even on the weekends).
Eat for nourishment
Too many sweets, too many snacks, heavy meals, and alcohol. The holidays sure can wreak havoc on a digestive system. Start this year by focusing on eating for deep nourishment. Pay attention to how your food makes you feel. Ayurveda recommends that your food be warm, well spiced, well fatted (with healthy fats like ghee, avocado, etc), and easy to digest. It’s the perfect time of year for soups, stews, and curries. These meals are chock full of veggies, and they are warm and comforting.
Reflect and meditate
To really be successful in your resolutions and intention it’s important to take some time to reflect. Reflect on the year that’s passed. How did you feel this year? What was your experience of life? What did you enjoy? What didn’t you enjoy? And look ahead to the coming year. How do you want to feel? What is your desired experience of life? What will bring you more joy? You can use these reflections and mediations to create a wellness plan for the year. You don’t have to do it all starting January 1 - take your time!
align with nature
The basis of ayurveda is alignment with nature. We are at our healthiest and most content when we live in sync with natures cycles. Start by forging a connection to nature. Follow the cycles of the moon, spend some time bundled up outdoors, pay attention to the sounds of nature (listen for the birds, notice how their songs change as spring approaches). As you connect more to nature start to notice how you have cycles that follow natures cycles - your circadian rhythm, your menstrual cycle, the ebb and flow of your energy throughout the day, etc. Alignment with nature is key to lasting health and wellbeing.