New Beginnings

The end of a year and the start of another is the perfect time to reflect on where we are with our lives, the parts that we love and the areas that we would like to improve on. It’s a great time to put an end to habits and systems that no longer serve us well, and instead focus our energy into our dreams and new beneficial habits. At Nakin Skincare we believe in filling our lives with the things that we love, and sometimes we need to let some things go before we can fit these new things in. Using our natural anti-ageing products is one way to improve your skincare routine, but there are so many other things that you can do to improve your life.

Each year, we all have the opportunity to hit 'reset' and set ourselves up for success. The dawn of a new year is an ideal time to reflect on our lives and take stock of what really matters. It's also a great chance to reassess our goals, both short-term and long-term, and focus on what we want to accomplish.

As the old saying goes, 'time is our most precious commodity.' It's important to use this resource judiciously. What good intentions or worthwhile habits do you want to build in the next year? Do you need more time for self-care? Perhaps it's time to declutter your living space or make more time to connect with friends and family.

The start of a new year brings with it the promise of fresh beginnings and endless possibilities. It's a time when many people make resolutions and set goals for themselves, determined to become better versions of themselves. But have you ever wondered why we tend to use this particular time of year as a catalyst for change?

The Power of a Clean Slate

The concept of starting anew is deeply ingrained in our culture, and the beginning of a new year brings with it a sense of renewal. It's like having a clean slate - a chance to leave behind any mistakes or regrets from the previous year and start afresh.

This blank canvas provides us with the perfect opportunity to reflect on our lives and make conscious decisions about the direction we want to take. We can leave behind old habits, toxic relationships, and negative thought patterns that may have held us back in the past.

The Cultural Significance

The idea of making resolutions for the new year dates back to ancient times. The Babylonians, for example, made promises to their gods at the start of each year in hopes of receiving good favour. Similarly, the Romans made promises to their god Janus, whom January is named after.

Even today, many cultures around the world celebrate the new year with customs and traditions that involve setting intentions for the upcoming year. It's a time when people come together to reflect on past experiences and look towards a brighter future.

This collective energy and sense of community can be a powerful motivator for personal growth.

The Psychological Impact

Setting goals and making resolutions can have a positive impact on our mental wellbeing. It gives us a sense of control and purpose, which is essential for our overall happiness. When we set achievable goals for ourselves, we feel more motivated and confident in our abilities to achieve them.

Moreover, the act of self-reflection can help us identify areas of our lives that may need improvement. By acknowledging our weaknesses and setting goals to work on them, we can take active steps towards personal growth and self-improvement.

The Opportunity for Change

The start of a new year is a perfect time to make changes in our lives because it represents a fresh start. It's a time when we can leave behind any past failures or setbacks and focus on new beginnings.

With the previous year behind us, we have a clean slate to work with and can approach our goals with renewed energy and determination.

Moreover, the beginning of a new year often comes with a sense of motivation and inspiration, as many people are also making resolutions and striving

Whatever it is you decide to do, the new year is a great opportunity for you to redefine how you spend your time and create positive change in your life. So why not make a resolution that will help you achieve balance and harmony during this year? 

Ideas for A Reset

This New Year is particularly special, as our calendar will align with the lunar calendar, to begin this year with a full Wolf Moon. A Wolf Moon is the first full moon that appears in January. It became known as a "wolf moon" by early Native American tribes, as wolves would howl outside their settlements. The Wolf Moon is considered a signal to listen to your intuitions. So as this full Wolf Moon lights up the sky, reflect and discard things that no longer serve us.

Begin by thinking about the things or areas of life that are not working well for you, and work out how to change them or move on from them. It might be a career, relationships, finances or habits. Once you have decided what you don’t want, then use the New Year to work out what you do want and set aspirations. Think about what you really want to achieve this year, and work out a plan of how to achieve it. Most things are achievable, but some just require more time and dedication than others. By having a plan of how to work towards it and working through it, then it will slowly become a reality.

If you are stuck for ideas on what to work on this year, then our suggestion is to do something that nourishes the mind, body and spirit. Take time to indulge and travel to a desired place, plan a trip to the seaside or mountains, read a book that will open your mind, start a new hobby, or become a volunteer.

One lifestyle change that will benefit everyone in many ways, is to improve our health. Most of us could improve our diet, and one of the easiest ways to do this is to avoid processed foods and sugar. Instead feed the body with nutrients and healing nourishing foods. There is a whole host of amazing super foods out there like Maca, Chlorella and Hemp; but even everyday foods also have brilliant health inducing properties. Try Coconut, fresh fruit and vegetables, organic proteins, organic honey, pulses, seeds and nuts.

Our physical and mental health are intricately related, so when we go out of balance in one of them, the other is likely to suffer. A good diet and exercise is healing to the body and the mind. There have been many scientific studies that show the link between diet quality and common problems like mood, depression and anxiety. Web MD (1) looked into research for this area, from their specialist advice they suggest to include the foods listed here:

• B vitamins, as those with low B12 levels have more brain inflammation and higher rates of depression and dementia, deficiency has also been linked to low moods.
• Iron due to iron-deficiency anaemia being linked to depression.
• Omega-3 fatty acids to improve thinking, memory and potentially mood.
• Zinc to assist in controlling our response to stress, low levels also can cause depression.
• Live yoghurt and fermented foods such as Kefir and Sauerkraut, as they provide good gut bacteria, which may help reduce anxiety, stress and depression.

A new exercise routine does not have to be time consuming, even just 15 minutes a day will have massive benefits. It could be as little as walking to places instead of driving, using a skipping rope in the garden, or attending a holistic exercise class every week. Or, if you already have a good exercise routine then focus on fine tuning it, could you pamper your muscles more to reduce the chance of injury, or add an additional area into your routine, such as yoga. Or, would you benefit from more relaxation, such as country walks or massages.

When in a good state of physical and mental health there is more chance to succeed in your dreams, as good health brings more energy and a positive mindset. Whatever you decide to reduce or add to your life, or the dreams you would like to fulfil, the next step is to write them down. Stick to the most important goals so there is not an overload to focus on. Once written on a sheet of paper, fold it up and put it somewhere that you will come across it every couple of weeks, like a handbag, jacket or drawer in the house. Finding the piece of paper at unexpected times will help as a reminder, and to reinforce them in the mind.

(1) https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20150820/food-mental-health#4