The beginning of a new year is a great time to reflect on the past year and begin to visualize what we want to be different in the upcoming year. And when we look at 2020, there is no shortage of sadness in our reflections. Our 2020 reflections look similar to each other because we all experienced loss at some level. 2020 was hard!
As we start this new year, we don’t know how to feel. We want to be hopeful, but really we are tired, we are restless, we are sad. This is not the normal New Year vibe! Nothing has really been normal for a while, and there is fear that our sense of pre-covid normal may never exist again. And if we reflect on that, maybe we don’t what that particular sense of normal to exist again. Either way, there’s that sense of loss we all know from 2020. We must grieve to move forward!
One way to work through this grief is to set resolutions. So how do we set resolutions when we are feeling so glum? How do you find hope when we are still experiencing such high levels of anxiety, anger, sadness, loneliness, overwhelm, and fear?
I got you! Here are a few resolutions to try on to help you move through those 2020 blues into some 2021 hope.
Mindfulness
Resolutions to practice mindfulness techniques on a regular basis will help you get out of your head. Mindfulness brings you into the present moment and grounds you enough so you stop future tripping or ruminating about the past. When you are in the moment, you are aware of how you really feel, and you can focus your attention on what is right before you. This kind of self-awareness is naturally calming and increases feelings of joy.
Ideas for your resolution list:
- daily morning meditation
- keeping a gratitude journal
- a daily mindfulness walk where you focus on the experience of physical senses
- regular yoga to focus on mind-body connection
- a deep-breathing exercise nightly prior to sleep
Home Sanctuary
Yay, there’s a vaccine! But you are still stuck at home, for now. You need your living space to inspire feelings of joy and serenity. Think about how your five senses are experienced throughout your home. Does it feel pleasing? If not, it’s time to start visualizing how your home would look, feel, smell, etc. to become your personal sanctuary.
Ideas for your resolution list:
- de-clutter your entire home, room-by-room, and get rid of items you do not need
- upcycle items instead of throwing them away
- plant a flower garden
- start an indoor herb garden
- establish a chore system/chart
- invest in an oil diffuser and learn about essential oils
- add color to specific rooms by painting or finding items which appeal to you.
Socialize
Do you have your COVID pod? Even if you have one, chances are this is not near the amount you socialized prior to the pandemic. Because socializing is much harder, it’s become easy to isolate. But human interaction is so important for your well-being (even for introverts). Face-to-face interactions might not be possible for a bit longer, so push yourself to connect with others.
Ideas for your resolution list:
- attend online networking events
- host a monthly Zoom party game night
- write five letters to old friends
- call a distant relative
- invite friends to a Google Meet party while watching a sporting event
- set-up a friend walking/hiking date weekly.
Learn
Are you getting tired of chillaxing with Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, etc.? Even if you are still enjoying catching up on old episodes of 90’s sitcoms, there’s so many opportunities to increase your knowledge about any topic without having to leave your home. Keeping your brain stimulated and getting those creative juices flowing does lots of good for your mental health.
Ideas for your resolution list:
- take an affordable online class through your local parks and recreation community, Coursera, Udemy, EdX, or CreativeLive
- learn new recipes
- watch a Youtube tutorial weekly on a new topic
- start a book club which focuses on professional growth, self-help, or non-fiction
- take on a new hobby.
Radical Acceptance
Simply, radical acceptance is the act of letting go of emotional struggle in order to accept the reality of powerlessness. Radical acceptance is a great skill to help manage the frustrations of 2020. When practicing radical acceptance, you are not denying yourself the anger, the sadness, or the pain you experience. Instead, you have an awareness of your emotions, you manage them, and you make a conscious choice to focus your energy on that which you do have control over in your life.
Ideas for your resolution list:
- practice self-compassion
- journal your emotions daily
- recite the serenity prayer at the beginning of your day
- read a book on radical acceptance
- work with a therapist to process your emotions and thoughts.
The new year offers an opportunity to start anew, but really, we can choose to make resolutions to better our lives any time. If you are interested in bettering your life through group counseling, workshops, or ecourses, subscribe below to stay updated about my offerings!
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