🌿 Resolutions or Intentions? A Gentler Way to Begin the Year

As January unfolds, many of us are already checking in with the goals we set for the year ahead. The surge of motivation that comes with a new calendar year often invites us to make resolutions — promises to change, improve, or finally become a “better” version of ourselves.

While this tradition can be motivating, it’s worth pausing to reflect on the difference between setting resolutions and setting intentions. Though they sound similar, the way we frame our hopes for the year can deeply influence how supported — or pressured — we feel as life inevitably unfolds.

Resolutions: Fixed Outcomes and Quiet Pressure

Resolutions tend to focus on specific outcomes: losing a certain amount of weight, saving more money, exercising every day. They are often tied to timelines and metrics, which can create an unspoken sense of success or failure. When life disrupts our best plans — as it often does — these rigid expectations can quietly dissolve into self-criticism or disappointment.

There is nothing wrong with having goals. But resolutions can sometimes be rooted in external expectations, leaving little room for compassion, adaptation, or the natural ebb and flow of energy throughout the year.

Intentions: A Way of Being

Intentions offer a gentler alternative. Rather than asking “What do I want to achieve?”, intentions ask “How do I want to live?” They are rooted in values, presence, and purpose — guiding how we show up day to day rather than demanding a particular outcome.

An intention might be to move through the year with more ease, to listen more closely to your body, or to spend time in nature regularly. Intentions allow for grace when plans shift. They recognise that growth isn’t linear — and that meaningful change often happens slowly, quietly, and beneath the surface.

Beginning the Year in Rhythm

At Enwild Retreat, we believe the new year doesn’t need to begin with rigid pressure or reinvention. Instead, it can begin with listening — to ourselves, to the season, and to what we truly need.

As we move through January, perhaps this is the invitation: to set intentions that feel supportive rather than demanding, and to choose experiences that help you reconnect with calm, clarity, and balance.

✨ Our 2026 retreat calendar is now open — offering day retreats and immersive 3-day experiences designed to support intention-led living in nature.
👉 Explore the 2026 calendar and reserve your place at enwildretreat.uk