It was hard to know what path to take as the new year approaches. Society teaches us to work hard, make goals, strive to be better people. However, the pressure can get to be too much and in times like these (a pandemic), the secret antidote may be learning to give ourselves grace and take a break from all of the pressure.
Everyone’s journey is different. There are people out there that may benefit from setting goals and amping up their game in the coming year. Maybe they have been giving themselves grace and took too much time off, and now they are feeling unmotivated. Stress and depression can trap us in a downward spiral and the mental state of our country after the high intensity of this pandemic has taken its toll. This could mean it is time for you to get the ball rolling again. Find what inspires you and reach for more motivation and zest for life. For some, a new year’s goal could look like finding a therapist, visiting a doctor and discussing your mental health to get back on track.
There are also others that have been so busy and going so hard just to keep up with the pace and the craziness of life these past two years, all they really need to do is rest. It could be that you need to use that PTO that keeps adding up. Maybe you need some “me” time, and while you are trying to take care of everyone else you need to start taking care of yourself.
Ultimately, there are a million different ways you can go, but as they say, if you want to see a change in your life, you will need to do something different than you have been doing. So whatever that looks like for you will be different than the individual next to you, but I do encourage you to dig deep and set some sort of goal or motivation for yourself, to help inspire you for this 2022 year to make it the best it can be.
Here is a list compiled from my thoughts and reflections as well as many of you sending in your own input. This is just a start to some ideas, but read through them, get inspired and come up with your own plan for the new year. Take this year and make it yours, and find happiness in striving to live better, be better, and/or feel better.
- Give yourself grace. Don’t be hard on yourself all the time.
- Focus on what you can change and let go of worrying about what you have no control over.
- Care less about yourself and more about others.
- Care more about yourself and quit putting others head of your own well being.
- Think before you speak or lash out in anger.
- Be concious of being more kind. Spread kindness everywhere.
- Give yourself more alone time to rejuvenate and recharge.
- Rekindle an old friendship / meet up with someone from your past.
- Make more time to nurture relationships.
- Meditate.
- Set fitness goals like walking more or moving your body. Walk a mile a day.
- Join a gym.
- Volunteer.
- Give up drinking alchol.
- Drink more water.
- Eat dinner as a family.
- Watch less true crime and more comedy.
- Listen to a self-help or educational podcast every week.
- Schedule an appointment with a therapist.
- Clean/Organize: You closet, your desktop, your email, your kitchen, you junk drawer, your life.
- Book a staycation to spend time alone or with your family.
- Dance around in your underwear more often.
- Donate: time, money, services.
- Try a new recipe each week.
- Eat in more.
- Schedule a weekly date night.
- Explore.
- Start a gratitude journal.
- Pray more. Give thanks.
- Go to church.
- Get out into nature.
- Pick up a new hobby and stick with it for an extended period of time.
- Be more social. Network. Make new friends.
- Join a club or start a meet up.
- Say no to things you dont want to do but you do out of oligation.
- Be more dependable.
- Listen.
- Do something adventurous.
- Get out of your comfort zone.
- Treat yourself.
- Rest.
- Dream.
Print this out. Highlight the ones that speak to you. Make your own list. Write a couple down and tape them to your mirror. Define your why and have a great 2022!