The year 2020 has been undeniably a difficult year for a lot of people. The pandemic has served as a reminder that unexpected events can change our life plans, and has also made it difficult to plan for 2021. However, the good news is that with 2021 is just around the corner, it brings opportunities for growth and change. Whether you want to pick up a new skill or work towards having a better work-life balance, New Year’s Day is your chance to get a head start on 2021 by making a manageable resolutions list and sticking to it.
Granted some of these resolutions may look familiar from previous years, or ones you’ve tried before, but it doesn’t hurt to give it another shot if you didn’t succeed the first time.
10 Top New Year’s Resolution for Happier and Healthier Living in 2021
1. Get More Organize and Create a Cleaning Schedule You’ll Stick To: Keeping your home tidy, without making it feel like a deep cleaning every week, can feel like a big task. Life can get messy. Don’t make it worse by living in an untidy home or (for those working from home) working surrounded by piles of paper. Clutter can hurt productivity and make it more difficult to stay focused. Also, if you don’t have a schedule or checklist created, you’re wasting a lot of mental energy trying to remember multiple tasks and deadlines. Make an effort to get more organized this year, starting with the most cluttered area.
2. Explore New Hobbies & Learn a New Skill: If you’re interested in attaining a new skill in 2021 but unsure what direction to go in, consider your interests. If you binge-watch cooking shows, perhaps look into picking up a cookbook, and sharpen your knives. There’s also a ton of tutorials you can find on YouTube for beginners. You’ll have fun learning as you go because it’s something you have a real interest in, and (bonus) it’s also an everyday skill you’ll use.
3. Strike a Better Work-Life Balance: Be sure to set specific times throughout your week where you can relax and unwind. Be proactive in planning activities which will allow you to enjoy free time. Even a simple walk around the block can help clear your head before a big meeting. Sometimes it’s easier said than done, but it’s so important to allow yourself that time, in order to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
4. Start Something You’ve Always Wanted to Do: Let’s face it, we all have that one dream or goal we tell ourselves “someday” we’ll do. Why not make 2021 the year that you work towards accomplishing that goal. Life is too short to live with any regrets. If you want it, go for it – and make that dream a reality. You’ll never know your full potential if you don’t believe in yourself. Take some risks and see where it takes you. Life is too short to live with regrets. If you want it, go for it – and make that dream a reality. You’ll never know your full potential if you don’t believe in yourself. Take some risks and see where it takes you.
5. Become More Confident and Take Some Chances: Some people struggle with self-confidence and shy away from fully expressing themselves. When you are confident in yourself, other people notice it, and it is much easier to be seen and heard. A good dose of self-confidence (whether physically or personality wise) will help you lead a much happier life overall. Try with baby-steps first, and then before you know it, you’ll be feeling more confident, strong and expressing yourself more freely around others.
6. Visit a New Place You’ve Never Been: Step outside of your comfort zone and do something daring. It’s good for the soul and forces you to learn new things. If you plan on traveling far on vacation, you’ll want to first make sure your finances are in order to do so. However, you don’t have to travel very far to experience different places and cultures nearby. You can research and look up places around you, or as far as you’re willing to go. Maybe even plan for a road trip – you’ll definitely find new places at every stop.
7. Learn a New Language: It never hurts to learn a new language. Not only will learning a new language help improve your communication skills, it will also look great on your resume and help open up some doors for you. It also helps boost brain power and improve memory.
8. Reinvent Yourself: If you feeling stuck lately and don’t feel content with your current situation, it may be time to make some serious changes in your life. Reinventing yourself can be exciting and scary at the same time. Say good-bye to the old you and embrace the new you. You may be surprised to find that it can take you in directions you never dreamt possible.
9. Cut Down on Social Media: Let’s be honest, social media has become a serious addition among users of all ages. Of course it’s fine to stay in touch with friends and family, but if you’re spending countless hours on social media, it’s time to make some changes to prioritize your time better.
10. Stay Active and Eat Healthier: This is one resolution we see on almost everyone’s list, but it’s also one we could all benefit from. There’s a ton of way to stay active for free (especially with several gyms closed). Try to keep the junk food to a minimum, and focus on eating cleaner. The more color on your plate (with veggies), the better. Try to keep your (junkier) snacks off the counter and out of sight, so you are not tempted to reach for it every time you see it.
Well, that wraps up the list. If you’ve already developed new healthy habits and have consistently stuck to it, try to make these changes permanent. Sometimes, you take a little break and then it becomes hard to get back into your established routine. Work on sticking with the good habits you have adopted, until they truly become a part of your everyday life. It is the most effective way to achieving true self-improvement.
We all know it can be difficult to stick to a New Year’s resolution after a couple of months, but consistency is key. For the long team goals, make sure it’s something important to you, and worth making the change for. Understand that slip-ups happen, and that’s ok. Just do your best to stay focused and keep your eye on the prize. Remind yourself why you made it your New Year’s resolution in the first place. In the end you will feel amazing and so proud of what you accomplished by staying consistent.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and best of luck on your 2021 journey.
