Help Make 2021 Better For Yourself (And Others): 10 Tips
2020 was a whirlwind for many of us, but 2021 doesn’t have to be the same. We lost over 400K Americans to the COVID-19 pandemic and many foresee big changes on the horizon for the world.
Everything will start to feel a bit more normal as more and more individuals get vaccinated and economies begin to turn around. However, we cannot control what happens to the world but we are in control of ourselves.
Even though we can’t control everything around us, we can control some things. Choosing a positive mindset is one of the most compelling tools we can bring into 2021. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 10 tips you can implement to improve your 2021.
1. Health is Wealth
When you’re not in good physical health, everything else you accomplish will be dampened.
Focusing more on your health could look like visiting your doctor for routine checkups or starting a new workout routine.
You will automatically recognize a difference in your 2021 when you notice and feel physical health improvements. Here’s an actionable tip: Fix your diet. One of the best ways to improve your dietary habits is by making micro-adjustments in your choices.
Those adjustments could be increasing your protein intake, eating more nutrient-dense foods like green vegetables, or fruits. You could also limit your sugar intake by choosing healthy oils to cook your food in or with.
Here’s an actionable tip to take your health to the next level: eat the rainbow. Eating the rainbow means choosing an assortment of natural foods of different colors that can contribute to a balanced diet.
2. Practice Mindfulness and Gratefulness.
You could also adopt a gratitude practice. In this practice, you’ll look beyond the fear, loss, and disappointment to get a better understanding of the big picture. Gratitude helps us to take an inventory of our lives.
Gratitude helps us to be present and if we find ourselves reliving the past or worrying about the future, we can use our senses to return to the present moment. Try noticing five things that you see, four things that you feel, three things that you hear, two things that you smell, and one thing that you can taste, then proceed with your day.
Breathing is something we often overlook. Self-care means doing activities throughout your day, during work and home responsibilities, that promote calm and emotional understanding. Watching your breath throughout the day while noting how you feel, can alert us to opportunities for self-care, mindfulness, and gratitude.
3. Community Outreach
2020 was an extremely hard year economically for some folks. In December 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 15.8 million persons reported that they had been unable to work because their employer closed or lost business due to the pandemic.
However, when you’re positioned well economically to live a good life you can support yourself by helping to provide for those who need food, healthcare, and social support. 2021 could finally be the year that you give more.
Connect with a local community outreach service provider and support their work with money and time. Google “food pantry near me”, connect with them, and contribute however you can. Time is a valuable resource and instead of giving money, you can donate your time and energy.
In 2020, we lost our ability to connect with others in-person at cafes, ceremonies, restaurants, concerts, sporting events, and even some family gatherings. We can’t overlook the opportunity to connect with others again. If possible, check-in weekly with important friends and family.
4. Reframe 2020
Take a recap of what you’ve accomplished in the past year. Make a note of which ideas were successful and which ones weren’t. It can be useful to take a moment and reflect on the previous year to reassess where you are.
Choose to frame 2020 as a lesson learned and take the bite out of the misery you’ve suffered. Ask yourself how did you grow from the difficulties of 2020 and how can this growth propel you forward.
5. Get Prepared for Emergencies
In 2020 the worldwide economy seemed to have collapsed overnight, but 2020 heightened the importance of having financial savings prepared for emergencies. Less than 40% of Americans have $1000 saved. You can make saving a priority in 2021.
These helpful financial tips could help you prepare for emergencies:
Make a budget
Set aside an amount each month for emergencies
Dual-income families can seek to save one spouses’ entire salary.
Sell five to ten things cluttering up your space
Start with something small like 1000$
6. Get Specific About What You Want
Every new year, millions of individuals resolve to lose weight, be more productive, or get in shape. Ambitious goals can be daunting because they’re vague. Getting specific about your goals will help to make them more actionable and achievable.
Realistic goals are easier to maintain over time instead of drastic ones. Choosing a solid achievable goal allows you to plan exactly how you are going to accomplish it, and maintain your new habit.
7. Take Risks
When reaching for new heights and goals it pays to take small risks. New situations can be scary but rather than predicting negative incomes, you can adopt a playful risk-taking methodology.
How can you stick your neck out at work in the new year? You could see your request for a promotion as a hindrance to your boss or see it as an opportunity for growth and more responsibility.
Taking risks is important to uncovering weaknesses. Knowing what your weaknesses are and choosing to work on them is risky. However, when you lack in a certain field, working on it may prove worth the risk.
8. Develop Small Daily Habits
One of the most effective methods for reaching your goals is by developing small, daily, habits that contribute to them. Here are some daily habits that could improve your 2021:
When you're stuck at home, accomplish a few activities you wouldn't normally have time for like reorganizing a closet, cleaning your email inbox, and planning for a new exercising routine.
Take a morning walk. Your morning walk could be linked with other goals you may have like listening to Podcasts, more of your favorite music, practicing a new language, budgeting, or listening to more audiobooks.
Put yourself first every day by adding some fun to your life, staying connected to those who are important to you, and creating a space for yourself. This could mean doing a 20-minute mindful meditation practice or watching your favorite Netflix series with a loved one.
Create every day. Are you an artist, poet, musician, designer, or blogger? Create a 30-day creativity challenge. Challenges did daily help to focus your mind on one moment and build momentum. Head over to your social profiles and get your community involved for accountability.
Take an online class. The internet provides us with a daily opportunity to improve through courses and online learning. A daily yoga, digital marketing, foreign language, or digital design course could lead to better physical health, more marketable skills, and more income.
9. Own and Waste Less
In 2020, some of us lost a lot. That’s why it’s important to practice gratitude over what we have by wasting less and less. The minimalist movement is constantly challenging our ideas that happiness is intrinsically linked to the number of things you own.
Getting rid of some of the things you don’t need can become another source of income, provide for someone who doesn’t have it, and declutter our space and minds. By choosing to own less, we reduce our carbon footprint and provide space for more opportunities to come into our lives.
10. Make a Vision for 2021
A clear vision, an actionable plan, and the courage to follow through on your goals could make 2021 your best year yet. Create a vision board for the things you want to achieve in 2021 to help you get a visual of all you wish to accomplish.
It’s important to set big goals, but even more important to have plans and deadlines for achieving those goals. The small actionable steps you take each day will help to put your goal in sight and make it easier to monitor your progress along the way.
The 2021 You Desire is Within Reach
Self-Improvement is vital for the future because it allows for growth that could help us develop the skills to make all of our dreams possible. New years provide new opportunities for changes that can improve our fates.
We can be ready to make changes in ourselves in regards to our goals to possibly achieve them because if we don’t change, then we won’t allow ourselves to improve. So, get started and remember that Eva-Marie Berry is rooting for you, and so is everybody else.
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