2020 was an unexpectedly rough year for everybody and as this year draws to an end it’s time to think about the new year. It’s time to stop being stuck on the same resolution's year in year out, eating healthy and exercising more is great!
Let's be honest though… How long did you actually do it for?
Before we see the endless amount of posts captioned “New year, new me”, it’s good to have a few resolutions in mind to become the best version of yourself next year.
1. Do something every so often that's out of your comfort zone
Everybody always wishes they tried new things, but they never take action.
It doesn’t have to be something outrageous like skydiving but set a timeframe to do something you never would. It could be weekly, a few times a month, or monthly.
Participate in an activity you never have or it could even be something as small as switching up your coffee order.
2. Create substitutes in your routine
No, I’m not talking about food, although that is something you can substitute!
Create a substitute for habits you have in your day-to-day life. Even if it’s one small thing in your day such as replacing the time you have using social media to journaling. If you have time at the end of your day instead of browsing Netflix, do something productive!
Substituting little habits no matter how small can make you feel more fulfilled and proud of how you spent your time.
3. Stop dreaming for your dreams
If you’ve had dreams whether they're big or small, if you spend some time even one hour a day on them you’ll find that you're itching closer and closer to them. Easier said than done, right?
There's no success that is out of your reach if you work for it, for me this was gaining experience for my dream job as a journalist, well here I am writing and getting closer to my biggest life dream! Whatever it is that you want, stop daydreaming and pushing aside your aspirations next year, it’s now your time to shine.
4. Be kind to yourself
We all know how hard this year has been and with the quarantine and the out of the ordinary year, it's put a toll on people, and they're well-being.
2021 is the year to bounce back from the abnormal times and be nicer to yourself, if you’ve felt pressured by an overload of online work or pushed yourself a little too far this year this resolution needs to be on the top of your list.
Make time to do something you loved but pushed aside, treat yourself to a spa treatment, or even make a reservation at a restaurant you love!
5. Set achievable frequent goals
Goal setting is one of the most efficient ways to keep your year in check and writing down a few goals you want to achieve, weekly, monthly, or even by the end of the year is good to keep you focused on achieving them.
Whether it’s for school, work, or even a personal goal, try to keep them achievable to start with and then gradually make them bigger and harder to accomplish. No matter how big or small the goals are that you set, once you can tick them off it’ll be a great feeling.
6. Stop Procrastinating
This goes hand in hand with goal setting, procrastination affects us all, and as much as we’d love to be productive robots 24/7 sometimes our minds get the better of us.
This year focus on getting things done promptly and without hesitation. Keep distractions at bay and push yourself to work instead of scrolling through TikTok for hours… don’t worry, I'm guilty of it too.
7. Get better sleep!
I know as hard as it can be with social media, phones, and laptops being easily accessible in bed it’s important to get a full night's sleep.
You might find that this may be the only downtime you have but getting those much-needed hours of sleep is more important than watching “just one more” episode. Sleep affects us more than we know and if you don’t get enough you’ll not only feel bad but look bad too as it affects our bodily system and can be the cause of bad skin.
8. Work on a positive outlook and attitude
Being positive sometimes can be hard but you must adapt a positive outlook and attitude as we transition into a new year.
As dull and bad as our lives may look at times even through low points it’s good to look at positives. Learn to look at what could be a bad or stressful day and balance it out with some positives!
Take a deep breath and smile, having a positive outlook and an attitude will build you up and will make you stronger and harder to knockdown.
9. Spend some time embracing nature
Not everyone has access to all sorts of scenery but if you can take a stroll to a park or a beach and spend some time (technology free!) taking it in and you’ll find that even 15 minutes of tranquility can make your day ten times better.
I began to do this throughout this year during times of stress and it shaped my day. You could be taking your dog for a walk or even just sitting listening to music, meditating, writing, or simply enjoying the environment.
10. Appreciate life a little more
Gratitude has become quite the topic this year and it’s worth every conversation, from journaling to listing and overall allowing yourself to appreciate positive everyday things can have a big impact and can make you happier.
I made it a priority to once a week list my top five moments, people, and places that I was grateful for, as should you! Having the ability to reflect and appreciate is a skill that’ll keep you humble and happy.
Another year, another chance you have to improve yourself and work on creating your best self. One resolution everyone should have though, is to keep on track of resolutions! As the clock strikes midnight and this year is behind us we can move forward and make 2021 a year of change, for the better.
