How INLC can help kick start your new year’s intentions!
January 13, 2023
2023. New year! New me!
We’ve all told ourselves this right…it can’t be just me?
A new year brings on feelings of fresh beginnings and a chance to reinvent ourselves. For me, the week between Christmas and New Year is the perfect time for list making, goal setting and mood boarding. Motivation is high as I plan my “ideal self” while I continue business as usual. I mean it’s not the 1st yet!
Until it is…
The harsh reality of realizing it’s time to make some real changes. Even if I hit the ground running (literally and figuratively), it’s around mid-January when life sets in, and I find this mayyy not be as easy as I thought.
If you’ve been feeling similarly, you’re not alone. That’s why I’m here to tell you how Inland Northwest Land Conservancy can help you sustain your 2023 goals!
Below I’ve listed some new year’s intentions we may have in common, and how INLC is here to help make them happen!
Reading
Below I’ve compiled a list of INLC staff favorites to jump start your reading list:
- The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
- *Sources of the River by Jack Nisbet
- The Last Star Gazers by Emily Levesque
- Was it Worth it?: A Wilderness Warrior’s Long Trail Home by Doug Peacock
- The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
- Sweet in Tooth and Claw: Stories of Generosity and Cooperation in the Natural World by Kristin Ohlson
- *Windblown I Poetry Anthology
*Local writer and/or have a focus on the Inland Northwest
Exercising
Working out does not strictly mean hitting the gym! Taking part in outdoor recreation is a wonderful way to get outside and move your body without the hefty membership fees. Not sure where to start? Join INLC on a guided hike! We’ve taken care of the planning and have a set of workout buddies, adventure pals, and new friends waiting. We host multiple guided hikes a month that can be found on the events page of our website!
While our January hikes are currently full, check out other local opportunities below on MeetUp:
- Inland Northwest Hikers
- Black Womxn Hike
- Get Out and Get Moving
- Healthy Lifestyle Community
- Rat Pack Spokane
- Spokane/CDA Outdoor Adventure Group
- Ms. Adventures of the Inland Northwest
Connecting with Friends & Family
Spending time outside doesn’t have to be for breaking a sweat. Enjoying time out in nature is a great way to spend quality time with friends and family. With INLC protecting a variety of natural spaces around the region there’s bound to be something nearby! Follow this link to see a full list of our properties that offer public access. Pick a destination, grab a friend and bundle up!
Trekking out in the cold not your thing? INLC is working to host more indoor events to bring community members together. For now, check out trivia at First Ave Coffee in partnership with 350 Spokane on the first Saturday of every month!
Learn a New Skill or Hobby
Trying new things can be scary and the barriers to entry whether that be cost, experience or not knowing where to start can keep you from branching out. Thankfully our INLC community is full of friendly folk who love to share their passions. Check our social media channels and event page to find unique opportunities to learn more about:
- Birding
- Wildlife Photography
- Snow shoeing
- Plant identification
- Pollinator health
- Foraging
Spending Less Time on Technology
To avoid being a broken record, I’ll keep this one short and sweet. If you find yourself spending more time reading, getting out in nature, connecting with loved ones, and practicing a new hobby you’ll see that screen time drop without even noticing.
Giving Back to my Community
A great way to give back to the Inland Northwest is by volunteering your time to help local nonprofits (like INLC)! Volunteering is also a great way to meet like-minded people and try something new.
- February 16: Volunteer Land Steward Training
- February 22: Tree Thinning at Waikiki Springs
- March 15: Chipping and Mulching at Waikiki Springs
I hope this list helps jump start some of your 2023 intentions. Feel free to reach out to us via Instagram and Facebook to let us know how your new year’s goals are coming along. (See our social media icons at the bottom of the page.) If you want to help INLC reach our 2023 goals, consider making a gift of any amount to support the lands and waters of the Inland Northwest.
– Gillian Rowe, INLC Philanthropy Assistant