Ideal for those looking to enjoy new perspectives after a rough 2020.
A new year brings a cathartic, cleansing appeal for many. Every beginning of a year is a chance for a new slate on which you can plan to start over again.
And never has there been more need for a fresh start and a carefully cultivated, more optimistic outlook than now. With that in mind, here are 7 resolutions to kick start your new year on the front foot, IDEAL for those looking to enjoy new perspectives after a rough 2020.
LET GO OF THE LAST ONE
We don’t want to keep repeating it, for fear it’ll reappear with a vengeance, but 2020 has been rough. Whether you choose to carry that negative energy into the new year, however, is up to you. By channelling the arbitrary excuse of a new digit on the calendar as a catalyst for change, you can approach 2021 with a fresh, positive perspective. In short, let go of last year.
SMALL, INCREMENTAL CHANGES
‘Out with the old and in with the new’. If only it were that simple.
But sweeping, wholesale changes to your life, love and career are hard to imagine and even harder to realise. Instead, set realistic goals with dates and deadlines, as enacting small, incremental change is much easier than rewriting your whole life script in one crazed and frantic session. This will form the basis for creating a plan that sets out your life goals for the New Year.
Accordingly, divide your new year plans into months and weeks and reflect on the ideas every month. This is a way of measuring how far you have reached, and the progress made can be motivating. Taking an analytical approach to your life may feel daunting, but it can reap rich rewards.
PRACTICE SELF LOVE
No, not like that. But rather, do your best to dial down the volume on that self-critical voice in your head. In recognising and acknowledging your own inner strengths, achievements and attributes, you’ll learn to have a more positive approach outwardly, too.
One way of doing this is by practicing gratitude. 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?
DISCONNECT, BUT CONNECT
We’re talking about that relationship with our devices and the internet, which only seems to have gotten more obsessive and time consuming during periods of lockdown and self isolation.
Next year, make it your personal mission to enrich your social cycle and make more meaningful connections, rather than endless memes exchanged on WhatsApp but nothing resembling an attempt at true, valuable conversation.
Spend time with your friends and family to build on your relationships. Sometimes you might feel withdrawn and antisocial, especially when stuck in a rut. This is the time to give yourself some fresh air by exploring the possibility of change in your inner circle.
FORGIVE & FORGET
As the old Chinese proverb goes; ‘‘to be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it’’.
Confucius had it right; you have to learn to forgive and let go. Do not hold grudges or transfer your dissent for someone into the new year because it will bring negative energy into your world unecessarily. Forgiveness, on the other hand, only leads to more positivity. Give it a try.
GET MINDFUL, GET SPIRITUAL
A wide ranging UK study into the health impact of the coronavirus pandemic released in September and covered in the Guardian found that ‘’in the early stages of lockdown 57% of those who took part reported symptoms of anxiety, with 64% recording common signs of depression’’.
A regular practice of mindful meditation can help you gain the perspective you need moving forward. Indeed, only ten minutes a day can do wonders for realigning your perspective. If you’re new to the wonderful world of ‘taking a moment’, there are plenty of apps offering guided meditations and mindfulness exercises for a monthly fee. If meditation doesn’t work for you, do still make the time just to sit still for a few minutes each day, enabling space for reflection on what has been, for everyone, a really confusing time.
CLEAR OUT
If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that all our ‘stuff’ and surplus possessions truly don’t bring us joy. So many have invested so much – both financially and mentally – in accumulating gadgets, gizmos, objects and items that we’ve forgotten to invest in our wellbeing.
A cluttered physical environment can distract you from what’s really important. Having a clearout of your domestic space can bring a clarity of vision which 2021 deserves. Indeed, house clearance is one method you can use to outsource your reboot and start afresh.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Kick-starting a new year right comes down to making necessary changes that brighten your life, streamlining your goals and your physical space, equally. Change can boost your mind and mood, and it is necessary if you want a new and positive beginning. So, if you want to make your 2021 better than 2020, start making those adjustments now.