Has anyone ever been more excited for a new year than 2021? The last 365 days have been hard on all of us — for some harder than any of us can imagine.
Many people are ready to move on from the pain and heartache this year has brought. And yet it doesn't feel right to be so hard on yourself with everything going on in the world.
This year is all about gentle growth. In that spirit, a New Year's resolution may not be the right fit. Resolutions feel rigid and promote a lot of pass/fail anxiety in people. It feels hard to try to apply new rules when the world is in such flux.
Instead, focus on finding ways to reset and start fresh for the new year that aren't super rigid. You can develop new habits and start fresh, but still be kind to yourself along the way.
2021 is here! We can all use a breath of fresh air after the year we've had. The good news is, we've made it through to the other side.
In 2021, we want to celebrate all kinds of growth that the year may have in store. That said, we don't want to apply the kind of pressure that makes that growth too stressful, especially in the fragile mental states many find themselves in.
Think Intentions, Not Resolutions
New Year's resolutions put a lot of pressure on people to make big changes fast. That pressure is amplified in the social media age, but it doesn't have to be. Start your year with intentions instead of resolutions for a gentler approach. Think about the way you want to feel instead of what you want to change.
Push Yourself, But Don't Let Others Shove Their Way Through
A lot of people need a little pressure to make change, and that's OK. You want that pressure to be positive and productive, not overwhelming. To accomplish that, work on pushing yourself to achieve, but don't let others have too much of a say.
Take Time To Recognize Your Journey
Before you barrel ahead, recognize your achievements big and small. Take the time to think about how you were able to make moves in the face of the chaos, and what that says about your abilities to tackle whatever the future holds. Take the time to feel empowered in anything at all that you've done, because it will make all the difference in how you move forward.
Pinpoint What You're Letting Go Of
Everyone wants to go into the new year feeling lighter. You can do that by letting go of some of what bogs you down. Pick one or two things that have given you a lot of grief that you're ready and capable of really releasing. Move ahead knowing that isn't something that can catch up with you. It's behind you and can't hold you back.
Slowly Incorporate a New Routine
Should you be getting more sleep? Drinking more water? These are the little changes we can make that can have a big impact, yet most of us put them off. Use a habit tracker in a journal or an app to help you incorporate a new good habit into your life. Don't be hard on yourself in getting there, but set your intentions on doing one thing that helps in a small way each day, and work at it earnestly.
Treat Your Future Self
Hard days are inevitable. Being prepared to care for yourself during them can make a tremendous difference in how you fare through them. Do what you need to ensure comfort is available to you when you need it. Have your favorite movie and a bottle of wine stashed away for a bad day. Buy an extra of your favorite candle or essential oil. Get yourself a gift card to your favorite restaurant. These little things can turn around a bad day and are easy to put in place.
Make Time for What Inspires You
Imagine how different your life could be if you felt inspired more often. Inspiration is the fuel of innovation, and a little innovation in your day-to-day can spell out big differences over time. To get there, make some more time for the things that inspire you. Make a commitment to taking a few minutes each day to doodle, or to taking a nature walk once a week. Not only might you find more inspiration, but they're great ways to relax and recharge.
Check In With Yourself
If you don't want to get caught up in the gritty mindset of resolutions, make sure that you're checking in with yourself with whatever you do. You may find that some of the intentions or ideas you had at the beginning of the year no longer serve you a few weeks in. Look at growth as flexible rather than a list of things that need to be checked off, and watch how much easier it is to introduce lasting change.
Surprise Yourself
Once in a while, you have to go off-script. You have to find ways to surprise yourself and learn new things about yourself. The best way is by doing something completely random. What's something that you find interesting that you've never tried pursuing before? Even something that you have just a little bit of interest in can make a big impact. Every experience won't be for you, but trying new and unexpected things will help lead you toward what is for you, while giving you some good stories to share.
