Ideal for rebooting your life.
2020 has been a tough year for everyone. And while we wouldn’t ever want to wish away the years, this is one which we’re certainly happy to see the back of.
For so many, this turbulent, tumultuous year has brought about something of an existential crisis. Indeed, in the face of a global pandemic, an uncertain job market and a volatile, reactionary political climate, folk of all ages are reevaluating their lives.
With ‘normal’ work and social life slowing down and at points grinding to a complete halt, many have embraced the opportunity to look inwards. What they’ve found was a deep yearning for something new. With that in mind, here are 5 proactive changes to help you achieve that fresh start in 2021, IDEAL for rebooting your life.
EXPERIENCE A NEW CITY
Whilst upping sticks right now certainly presents obstacles, enjoying a fresh start in a new city could present opportunities and experiences unimaginable during this most solitary of years.
Fortunately, change is afoot in the way we operate in the office, with many no longer needing to attend a physical office at all. Which begs the question; what’s keeping you living in your current city? If the sole reason was work, then experiencing a new city, if only for a short time, might bring about the fresh start you’re seeking.
No longer confined to five days a week in an office and desperate for a change of scene from the new, already staid Working From Home (WFH) existence, we’ll see a significant rise in the ‘Workcation’, with travellers choosing new cities to live and work in for short, manageable stints. Embracing digital nomadism could grant you access to some of the world’s most exciting cities, and after such a drab year, that idea has got our heart fluttering.
A CHANGE IN CAREER
Careering into a career change? For many, it might not sound like the smartest of moves when job security is at an all-time low. Indeed, we’ve all seen the recent troubling news about rising unemployment rates, with nearly 5% out of work in the UK between August and October. Many more are living a state of uncertainty about their job’s future.
More still are considering using this period of upheaval as the catalyst for a career change they’ve been longing for. The work/life balance, pros and cons of working from home, and an increased desire for financial stability have all been drawn into sharp focus, and the UK looks set for drastic reappraisals of the very meaning of ‘work’ next year.
But with many Brits feeling a little hollow right now, if you are in need of a fresh start, then a change in career might be just the answer. Before leaping into anything, check out these tips on the signs that now is the ideal time for a career change.
MAKE MAINTAINING YOUR HEALTH A PRIORITY
If 2020 has taught us something, it’s that our health is so important. As fresh starts go, and if you value feeling fresh, then it’s high time you focused more fully on your health.
While many make new year’s resolutions to join a gym in January or record 365 runs across the entirety of the year, it can be seriously hard to maintain motivation. Make this the year when you don’t let life get in the way of your physical health, by making fitness fun and part of your daily routine, as well as enlisting the help of friends and colleagues in your exercise goals.
Alternatively, many find that extra motivation from getting competitive; apps like Map My Run for runners, Strava for cycling and the Apple Watch Activity app all provide regular feedback, a certain level of gamification and new goal setting which are designed to give you that extra push to keep at it.
CALL ME BY MY (NEW) NAME
Did you know that changing your name is easier than opening a new bank account? For a different slant on making that fresh start, a new name would certainly herald a certain sense of refinement and progress in your life. Should a new title, first name or even surname make you feel empowered, then go for it! Alternatively, if your name recalls a past you’d like to forget or even a famous face you’d rather not be associated with, then changing it is as easy as filling out a form and filing it.
Just don’t follow Phoebe from Friends’ lead and change it to Princess Consuela Banana Hammock – well you could if you wanted, it’s your fresh start, after all.
A FRESH PERSPECTIVE
Develop an attitude of gratitude in 2021. Though last year had us feeling pretty bleak and world-weary, taking a step back and realising what we were grateful for helped put things in perspective. Next year and to embrace those fresh starts, why not make practicing gratitude part of your everyday routine?
Many happy, content people swear by the keeping of a gratitude diary, in which they list 3 things they’re grateful for each day. Doing so has been said to rewire your brain to be more optimistic; and we could all do with a bit of that next year, right?