April 2023 Intentions
This essay originally appeared in the Monday morning newsletter on 4/3/23.
Happy first Monday of April!
I know the start of new month is arbitrary. Is it really that significant? No. But this month – more than usual – I’m excited to be turning the page of the calendar.
I remember at the end of last year, when I was looking ahead to 2023, recognizing that April was one of the only 2023 months without travel plans, big events or pre-established plans. It’s certainly been a great year so far… visiting Charleston! Time at home in Florida and trips to Indy! Friends in town for St. Patrick’s Day! But especially as I cross the threshold on two big, time-intensive projects at work this week and generally work through some heaviness, I’m thankful to have this “open” month in front of me to reset and re-center. It’s a theme you’ll see carried throughout my monthly intentions below.
Your April might look different than mine – maybe it’s your busiest month! – but if you’re open to it, consider using this first Monday of a new month (and quarter!) to take a beat and think about how you want to spend your time these next couple weeks. I find that even just by thinking about how I want to spend my time, I’m more likely to spend my time mindfully.
Now, let’s get to planning!
What do I love about the month of April?
- My birthday is in April! I can’t deny it – I do love my birthday. No big plans this year (gearing up for next year – 30!), but always love taking time to reflect on the year that’s passed and the year ahead.
- The weather, especially toward the end of the month, does start to turn. Yay! April is always a mixed bag, but here in Chicago, we do usually have a few glorious tastes of what’s come. And, every year tens of thousands of tulips are planted in the Michigan Ave medians. They typically start to bloom at the end of April. I LOVE it. It’s such a fun tradition.
Anything unique about this April?
- Like I mentioned above, I’m not traveling, intense parts of some work projects are (for the most part) behind me, and my calendar is generally “open.”
- Easter falls at the beginning of April this year! Excited to be celebrating with Matt and close family friends.
- My mom is also coming to visit a weekend in April – can’t wait to spend time with her!
April 2023 Intentions
- Journal most mornings. I’ve written before about something called “The Morning Pages,” which is a journaling practice in which you write three pages of longhand writing first thing in the morning. It’s strictly stream of consciousness – you just write down whatever comes to mind. I did this frequently in 2020/2021 but have gotten out of the habit since. Since I have some space in my schedule, hoping to get back into a routine this month. I love it. As the famous Joan Didion quote goes, “I don’t what I think until I write it down.”
- Lean into cooking and meal prepping. Since I’ll be home this month, I’m excited to spend some more time in the kitchen. I recently ordered two new cookbooks – Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat Slow. and Rise and Run – by runners and friends Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky. I found the pair through their superhero muffin recipe, which I love and make almost weekly. Can’t wait to try their other recipes.
- Relax on Sundays. Ever since reading this article, I keep thinking about the idea of having one day a week (like a Sunday) that’s unstructured and rest focused. I think this is the month to test it out, with no travel plans and work stabilizing a bit. It would mean finding another day to write this newsletter as that is usually my Sunday task, but I think it would be a cool experiment!
- Try CorePower Yoga. I can’t believe it’s almost been a year since my barre studio – Bar Method – closed its location near me. Since then, I’ve gotten into a good groove of alternating between running, at-home Sculpt Society videos, Peloton rides and Barry’s classes on Saturday with Matt. But I’d love to add more in-person group fitness to my routine. CorePower Yoga has been on my radar for a bit and I’m excited to try a class.