6 New Year’s resolutions inspired by mindfulness, artisanship and sustainability

Goodbye 2022 and hello 2023!

Now that the craziness of the holidays is all done, let’s take a minute to reflect on the past year. We don’t know about you, but it’s been a busy time for us! Developing the kits and launching the business has been an absolute whirlwind. And that is without even mentioning our personal projects! Though it has been intense, we are very proud of the way the brand has grown.

But that is not to say we couldn’t do anything better! One of the most fun things about starting a new year is setting out new goals to achieve. We’ve all seen the statistics about New Year's resolutions, but let's indulge ourselves for a moment.

 What do you want from this new year? Try to see the big picture first. Try to picture your ideal life, and the person you’ve always dreamt of being. Try not to compare yourself to others, and don’t focus on where you feel like you should be in life. This moment is all about you and what would make you happy. Are there any big life projects you could work on this year? Is there anything you did last year that would be best left in the past?

Have you got a clear picture of where you’d like this new year to take you? Then it's time to break down those big goals into smaller ones! Think of it like going up some stairs to reach a new floor. Easily achievable steps are key to getting where you want to be without feeling overwhelmed. 

For example, let's say one of your goals for the year is to get healthier. It is a fantastic goal, but where to start? Some achievable steps might be to go to the gym twice a week and to have vegetables with dinner every other weekday. Once you’re comfortable with those changes, you can adapt them into new steps. Will you go to the gym three times a week? Have a completely vegetarian day every Thursday? Those small steps will carry you to your larger goal without you even realising it.

In this article, we’ve compiled a few of our own resolutions. They are inspired by our three main values: mindfulness, artisanship, and sustainability. 

OurHands Resolutions

Mindful resolutions

Focus on the process, not the results.

In a quest to always be better and faster, it is easy to forget the joy of doing something for its own sake. Focusing on your process will decrease the stress of achieving results. This in turn will allow you to create better things.

Smaller steps: 

Do something poorly on purpose. Write the worst poem that you can, paint with your fingers, or sing in the shower. Enjoy the fun of the activity, and keep a record of how it made you feel.

Start a project without a goal in mind. Write a story without knowing the ending, go on a walk in a random direction. See where it takes you.

Be kinder to yourself

We all learn to be very strict with ourselves to achieve our goals but that isn’t very healthy. After all, we’re only humans and life is unpredictable. Doing your best will look different from day to day, and that's okay! Bettering yourself won’t happen overnight. A day of rest is unlikely to erase all the hard work you put in over time.

Smaller steps:

Keep a positivity journal. Every day, write down something you did right. It can be big victories (“I got the job I wanted”), or small wins (“I got out of bed this morning even though I didn’t want to”). Nothing is too insignificant. If you want to make your positivity journal extra special, why not create your own journalling notebook using our Bookbinding Kit?

Most of us tend to be too harsh on ourselves. Any time you catch yourself being critical of something you did, think about what a kind friend would tell you. 

Artisanship resolutions

Start using a new medium

Trying a new form of art will give you a renewed appreciation for your creativity. You might fall in love with a new hobby, or you might be grateful that you chose the one you did!

Smaller steps:

Many clubs offer free taster classes, from choirs to sculpture, drawing or even sewing. Try to go to a few!

Let us take all the hard work out of buying supplies and finding instructions by using our Watercolours Making Kit to blend your own watercolour paints and learn how to make beautiful watercolour art.

Get another artistic friend to swap art supplies with you for a week. You can teach each other about your preferred medium.

Share your creations

We know how vulnerable sharing your art can feel. But we’ve also seen how rewarding and motivating it can be. No matter how niche your interest is, there is a community out there that shares your love. They will accompany you every step of the way. You can create new friendships while getting better at what you do!

Smaller steps:

Create a social media account for your art. Between Instagram, blogs, Twitter and TikTok, you can be sure to find one that works for you. Aim to post once a week and try to use tags to create conversation. We can always tag us at #madewithourhands!

Try to get a few friends together to create an art club. You can meet up every other weekend to work on your projects and share your progress.

Sustainable resolutions

Reduce waste

Reducing waste is one of the easiest ways to protect the planet. It is also a way to save money! From avoiding single-use plastic to going 100% zero waste, everyone can find a way to help. Be more mindful of what you buy and question everything you buy. Do you actually need it? Is there any version of that product that would be better for the environment? Second-hand objects are often discounted and work just as well.

Smaller steps:

Invest in reusable objects. Water bottles, coffee cups, cotton pads and grocery bags can be swapped for reusable ones. Not only is it good for the planet, but some of them also look amazing and are cheaper in the long run!

Start meal prepping! According to some studies, about 40% of all food ends up being wasted. By thinking about what you want to cook and only buying what you need, you can avoid throwing things away unnecessarily. Great for the planet and your wallet!

Say no to fast fashion

With fashion trends changing every week, clothing companies are under a lot of pressure to produce clothes as fast and cheaply as possible. This means that things like environmental and human rights concerns are often disregarded. Clothes are often made with cheaper, toxic materials and dyes which pollute water supplies. 

Smaller steps: 

Look for charity shops near you! They’re a great way to get rid of clothes you don’t wear anymore, and they’re always full of good finds to add to your wardrobe!

Start repairing your clothes. A ripped button or a small tear does not have to mean a trip to the landfill! Learning to mend fabric is a fun and easy way of helping the planet while showcasing your personal style. If you're new to needlework you may want to check out our Sashiko Repair Kit, which includes everything you need to learn how to use the Japanese method of sashiko to repair or embellish your old or worn out clothes.

And a happy new year!

We hope this list has been helpful in giving you some ideas for your resolutions. 

One important thing to remember is that each day is a new opportunity to reinvent yourself! You don’t need to wait for a next year, next month or next week. Figure out what you want, get started, and you will be seeing results in no time.

Have a great year 2023!