For me, Jan.1 is like a sip of ice-cold stream water during a grueling hike it brings a surge of renewal, energy, and inspiration for whats next. Ive celebrated the New Year in various ways from champagne and clubs to tea and 4 a.m. world peace meditations. In the end, these are three of my favorite ways to start the New Year.

The first tradition is Write It All Down. Start by writing headings for each area of life (finance, career, relationships, adventure/fun, etc.). Under each heading, write down everything that you want to achieve, from tiny tasks (like buy a brown belt) to super-stretch goals (like travel to 10 countries). The key is to write it all down because we are 42% more likely to accomplish things when we do. To be honest, I usually dont even look at this list until the following year, yet a lot of things get checked off, even when Im not consciously focusing on it.

I love this practice because its a structure that is simple and easy to do. I have over 10 years of some version of this tradition in a Big Red Journal that I only pull out at the New Year. Its an easy way to track my desires and accomplishments over time that doesnt create pressure, overwhelm, or fear of failure.

The next New Year tradition is Theme Your Year. Think about the essence of what you want to experience or create in the next year. Roll it around in your head for a few weeks until you land on a word or phrase that captures it. Then, bring your theme to life. Create a playlist or piece of art that captures your word or phrase. Put reminders of it on sticky notes. Write about why its important to you. Share with your inner circle. Experience what its like to bring that essence into your year. Some examples from my clients are: Root & Rise; Cultivate Connection; and Let Go.

This tradition helps us clarify what really matters. And creatively bringing the concepts to life through music, art, journaling and sharing helps engage the right and left sides of the brain. I love this tradition because its a simple and playful way to set the course for the year ahead.

The final tradition I practice is Permission to Hibernate. The older I get, the more I lean into the cycles of nature. Even though society tells us that we should grind from coffee to wine, and that you can sleep when youre dead, I disagree. Theres a reason all living things go through cycles. Theres intelligence in periods of high activity followed by periods of rest.

Winter offers an invitation to slow down. To get under a blanket and watch snow fall. To read a book or write in a journal. To lay down in bed and sleep more. Especially after the flurry of the holidays, I lean into slowness and ease whenever I can in January. It is a time to restore, refuel, and reflect. So, while others may find joy and meaning in re-upping gym memberships and doubling down on fewer desserts, my best way to start the New Year is by carving out pockets of slowness, of quiet, of comfort and ease.

I love this unconventional tradition to opt out of the hustle for a while. After getting past the unfamiliarity and the persistent urge of I should be doing something productive, resting and slowing down have been the best ways for me to fuel an impactful and growth-filled year.

What do you hope for in 2024? If it feels like a stretch to create it, Id love to hear from you. Submit your question below, and Ill offer practical and evidence-based ways to get started.

Tiffany Skidmore is a mental health and life coach who specializes in anxiety. Email your questions and feedback to tiffany@tiffanyskidmore.com or submit them anonymously at tinyurl.com/thelifecoach. Visit tiffskidmore.com to learn more about Tiffany and her work.

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The Life Coach: Start 2024 right with these New Years traditions - Longmont Times-Call