January is the perfect month to start the new year with a clean slate. The holidays are just behind us, and we need both rest and cleansing. Cleaning/tidying up or changing your home (for example, with a different color in our interior) is a good start. It creates space for new things and makes you feel lighter. Rituals are traditionally linked to the season or to the Christian faith, with the aim of making the body and mind aware of the recurring cycles of nourishment and cleansing.
Ayurveda, as a universal science of life, places great value on rhythms. You can find these under 'dinacharya' (wisdoms for daily routines) and 'ritucharya' (wisdoms for seasonal rhythm).
What should you pay attention to at the start of the new year? Below are some tips to help you get started.
- Create routine in your lifeThere's nothing as healthy as a "boring life." Your body is like a clock. So get up at or around the same time, go to bed around the same time, eat meals at the same time, and build a daily routine with fixed times for work, eating, bowel movements, free time, and sleep. That creates peace.
- Tailor your nutrition to your constitution and lifestyle. Are you more of a vata, pitta, or kapha type? Everyone's digestive system works differently. Vata generally has a weak digestive system and benefits most from warm, soft, and cooked foods. Are you physically active? Then be aware that you burn more and need more!
- Detox regularly in a gentle way. We don't have to do much because our bodies already have natural mechanisms to do this. The liver is the detoxification organ par excellence. But with a gentle detox diet, you can help both the liver and the entire body.
- Exercise daily. Focus on good circulation in your heart and blood vessels. Exercise improves digestion. But above all: stay flexible and active so your hormones benefit. You'll also feel less depressed. Get outside as much as possible; daylight is essential!
- Cultivate peace and mindfulnessRest and relaxation are essential for recovery and recharging. Sufficient sleep reduces stress on your nervous system, resulting in clarity and positivity.
- Set intentions (sankalpa) instead of goalsGoals are often pitfalls and create a sense of mental tension to achieve something. They often lead to disappointment. Look within and ask yourself what you truly want to achieve this year, based on your feelings. Examples include: "I take good care of my body" or "I take time for rest and reflection."
Wishing you a wonderful start to the year!
