From elaborate celebratory rituals to countless campaigns encouraging a “new year, new you” mentality, the passage of time and the pressure of change can feel like it’s everywhere you look. Even if you personally don’t use the new year as a signal for overhauling the idea of self-improvement, the combination of such constant, surround-sound stimuli can easily lead to getting overwhelmed by the never-ending influx of commercial messaging, societal expectations, personal goals, and new year target pressures.
So, how can you find and maintain peace and enter this new year at your own pace? Here are some ways to start 2025 off on the right foot—whatever that means to you.
1 Know your reason for the season. With millions of makeover movie montages, advertising campaigns, and special kickoff events out there, it’s entirely possible you could find yourself swept up in the fantasy of what this new year “should” be or what you “should” be doing or feeling during it. Instead, think about what you want and/or need to do for the next few days, weeks, or months. Whether or not any resolutions are included, what do you want from 2025?
2 Set limits clearly and from the start. Once you set your intention for the new year, it’s time to establish boundaries. Be those boundaries with yourself, friends, family, and/or colleagues, communicate clearly what you do and don’t want going forward. For instance, if you want to spend quality time off with loved ones, get some holiday in the books asap. Likewise, if you want to limit drinking, bring a bottle of nosecco or order from the mocktail list. These types of boundaries are especially useful when it comes to managing any money worries.