Happy 2021, I hope this year is a wonderful one for everyone. It is understandably nerve-wracking considering the year we just went through globally so here are some ways to take care of yourself this year
- Take It Day By Day — starting a New Year can feel nerve-wracking. 365 days ahead without knowing what each one will bring. Thinking too far ahead can make you feel scared and “frozen”. Take it day by day. Bring yourself back into the moment you are in now and think about how you can make the day ahead of you the best one yet. When you start thinking too far ahead and it's making you feel uneasy, try bringing your thoughts back into the present moment — what do you see around you? what can you hear and feel? It may be easier said than done but with practice, you will be going with the flow like a natural.
- Don’t Overwhelm Yourself With Goals — if you’re anything like me you have multiple projects you are always working on and goals you want to achieve, and that can feel very overwhelming at times. Try picking one or two goals and focusing your energy on those. By having fewer goals you will feel less overwhelmed and will be more likely to make a plan of action to achieve them!
- Strive For Progress, Not Perfection — making progress on your goals is a really great feeling but can sometimes be overshadowed by the need for perfection. Accomplishments can be easily overlooked if they are not up to our own standards and it is easy to be our own worst critiques. It can be exhausting always trying to be perfect and it’s okay to want perfection but it is also okay to be proud of what you have accomplished. Strive for progress, not perfection by celebrating the work you have put in. It is okay if it didn’t turn out exactly as you imagined, the important thing is that you worked towards something and put your best efforts forward and that is worth celebrating!
- Don’t Feel Bad For Not Doing “More” — 2020 was a hard year for the world and it can be difficult entering a New Year when you feel like you “barely accomplished anything” the year before. It is perfectly acceptable to have taken a “self-care” year and not worked on any goals and rather just worked on being okay. Taking care of yourself is one of the best accomplishments and should be celebrated. There is nothing wrong with doing less if it means you’re putting your needs first. I like to make a list of all the good that happened during the year to remind me of the positive points. Even if you can only think of one thing, it can be helpful to sit in those feelings and help you pivot your attention away from the negative. Similarly, during this New Year remind yourself that it’s okay not to do “more”, remind yourself what is really important to you and what you value most, and focus on all the ways that those things have been present in your life.
- Take Care of Yourself — this should really be at the top of the list. Taking care of yourself should be your priority — It’s hard to give yourself to others when you are feeling burnt out. This is your sign to get the help you need, take the extra time for yourself and do whatever it is that you can do, and have the means to do, to make yourself feel loved and taken care of. After all, we are our own biggest advocates.
I believe in each and every one of you reading this and I am wishing you all a happy and healthy 2021.
