A man swimming in open water.

How to make the best of those good intentions

Wellness
By Issy von Simson
January 22, 2025
It’s often as simple as pledging to eat lunch away from our desks or vowing to remember to take our supplements each day. The smaller the undertaking, the better the success rate. Goals that are specific and actionable will inherently be more attainable. And that is something seriously worth bearing in mind when setting intentions.
Light falling on a calendar on a wall
Setting goals for best behaviour for the year ahead is not a new concept. In 46 BC, when emperor Julius Caesar introduced the calendar system that began the new year on the first day of January, the Romans created a tradition of celebrating the Feast of Janus and offering up their service and good intentions for the coming 12 months. These days, as the seasons shift and the 2025 diaries have been cracked open, we have seen a tidal wave of decision-making, introspective and personal, bold and meaning business. The ambition and drive for the coming year feels vibrant and full of hope. But now that February has swung round, the reality is that more than 90 per cent of those that made well-meaning declarations have abandoned their plans. And the loftiest and most ambitious are the most likely to have stumbled at the starting block.
A woman sitting at a desk writing

That is not to say that we are all doomed to fail when setting intentions. Far from it. Intentions should be there as a guiding force to help align your immediate actions with your more long-term values. It’s about working out what’s important to you. If your aim is to nurture your physical health, or introduce more balance and mindfulness into your life, then the key is to set out feasible objectives that won’t feel impossible when things get busy.

 

Positive affirmation is the way forward, putting the emphasis on doing something rather than not doing it. Setting small realistic goals can have a big impact: having a phone-less evening, doing ten minutes of meditation before the house wakes up, tackling one pressing task on the to-do list each day, incorporating more protein into your breakfast, swapping a flat white for a green tea or fresh herbal infusion. Being conscious about where attention and energy is directed is crucial. Make it count. Especially if it relates to future goals, where there is a greater purpose at play. It’s not about wishing on a star for a miracle. Instead, it’s about getting things done, and using that feeling of accomplishment to help build inner strength, and often outer strength, too.
A man about to set off for a run in a park.

Setting physical intentions is the perfect tangible manifestation of this process. Instead of trying to lose an undecided amount of weight or reaching for the vague concept of getting fit, the intention should look at the mindset shift that might be needed for these things to happen: focusing on establishing a daily or weekly routine; seeking out types of exercise or movement that bring joy rather than dread and exhaustion; being aware of the holistic requirements for good health by eating well, sleeping well, finding space for mindful moments and creating balance. Plot out a positive achievable plan of action but be clear on the boundaries – a constantly beeping Fitbit is a wagging finger that no one needs.

 

It’s a powerful moment when the correlation between inner and outer strength makes itself apparent. It’s the headspace that comes as a thrilling by-product of physical activity. It’s the feeling of being more present, more in the moment, of somehow carving out the mental breathing room for creative thinking and reflection whilst achieving physical goals at the same time. It gives you space to reflect on the big (life shifts) and the small (day-to-day details). From a holistic health point of view, it’s empowering. It’s about taking control of the year ahead rather than letting the year take control of you. There can be no better resolution than that.
Issy von Simson
About the Author
Issy von Simson
Formerly the Editor-in-Chief of Loupe and Editor of Condé Nast Traveller, Issy writes for T+L, The Times, The Telegraph, BOAT and ES magazine and is the author of Secret Stays, published by Assouline.