I'm not going to be the first, or the last, to tell you that 2020 was a dumpster fire. Every person on the planet faced a loss of some sort. For some, it was the loss of free time. Others lost jobs. Many lost family members. All in all, it was a year with little hope. But the good news is, there's already so much to look forward to in 2021. The vaccine is rolling out, which will help keep people protected. And, as usual, new leadership will bring change.
That said, it doesn't mean that everything will return to normal. Together, we got through a trauma. And just because the year changes doesn't mean we should pretend to be the people we were back in 2019.
In making resolutions, we need to not be so hard on ourselves. Gone should be the resolutions of losing weight, or going to the gym. Instead, resolutions should be focused on ways to relax, keep focused, and stay happy. If you're looking for some inspiration, here are eight strong resolutions you should make for the new year.
1. Carve out time for an at-home manicure and pedicure once a week.
If not once a week, once a month. It's not so much about the nails as much as taking the time to do something for yourself. Invest in some fun polishes, and don't be afraid to go wild with the colors — especially if you'll still be working remotely into 2021. Doing your own nails is much less expensive and much more safe. But if you venture out to a salon, make sure to be careful that the owners are following the most recent guidelines set out to keep people safe.
2. Stop verbally beating yourself up.
How many times have you referred to yourself as dumb or stupid for making an everyday mistake? If you openly call yourself an idiot for losing track of the flour right before baking cookies, ask yourself this: Why? When you tie words like that to yourself, you start to believe them. Go easy on yourself. Don't call yourself names. Break the habit, and see how much better you feel.
3. Give yourself one compliment every day.
It doesn't have to be anything big. Something like "My hair looks great today" is good enough. Even if the rest of the world crashes down today, at least you have one positive thing that you've already acknowledged. If you can pay yourself that compliment first thing in the morning, even better.
Sometimes, our brains play tricks on us and make us devalue ourselves. It's important to acknowledge your own importance in the world.
4. Volunteer more.
Dedicating your time to helping someone else is quite noble. But it's beneficial for many reasons. By volunteering, you're meeting new people, learning new skills, and possibly even finding brand-new interests. You're also learning more about your own community. By branching out and interacting with new people, you're becoming more of an important figure within your city or town.
5. Stop catastrophizing.
This one may be tough, since it's so easy to do. When you catastrophize, you assume the worst is going to happen. While it's been a bad year, it's not good for our mental health to add more worry when it's not necessary. Take things day by day. If you keep thinking the worst, it might be a good idea to seek help from a counselor who will work with you to stop the behavior. You'll be so much happier you did.
6. Call your relatives more.
Texts are easy, but calls are so much better. If you and your relatives have the means to video chat, that's even more personal. Your family loves you and wants to keep tabs on you. Try to be more present for them, and make a resolution to call — and not just when big news happens. Call them to talk. Ask them about their day. Try to get them to tell you fun stories about the past. You'll feel a lot better after a call with your grandmother, and so will she.
7. Plan more date nights.
But skip the whole "dinner and a movie" cliché — unless it's takeout and a movie streamed from home. It's important for you and your partner to keep going on dates, even if you've been married for a decade. These moments carve out time for just the two of you. So take a walk in the park on a day that's not too chilly, or find a brand-new game to play together. Schedule small events you can do at home after the kids are asleep, so you don't have to worry about finding a sitter.
8. Do a better job of getting rid of items you don't need.
Clutter can really affect your mental health in a negative way. In the new year, you can try harder to fix the problem before it gets out of control. If you've got old clothes you can't fit into anymore, don't hang onto them until you lose weight. If that time comes, you deserve new clothes you feel good in — not old clothes that might no longer be quite as fashionable anymore.
Try to purge kids toys (but ask them permission first to avoid any meltdowns), and try rearranging furniture to create more livable space. Your home has meant so much to you this past year. Treat it right, and give yourself more room to breathe.
