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2020 wasn’t how any of us planned it to be, but we made it work.
We’re still a few weeks out from 2021. We know life won't return immediately to normal. But it's important to maintain some traditions going into the new year.
Like New Year’s resolutions.
What does the end of an uncertain year mean for New Year’s resolutions?
It all comes down to attainable lifestyle resolutions.
This year, when thinking of your resolutions, consider realistic and specific goals. Don’t say, “I want to lose weight in 2021.” Say, “I want to lose 20 pounds in 2021.” Or “I want to lose 10 pounds by April.”
By getting specific, you’re setting yourself up for something attainable. The reason most people break their resolutions so fast is that they don’t see an instant change. In this era of instant gratification, we don’t want to put the work in anymore.
I hate to tell you this, but there’s no reward unless you put in the work. As a professional organizer, I know my systems won’t work without some effort.
Let’s look at some popular resolutions and break them down into attainable goals.
Dietary
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One of the top-ranked New Year’s resolutions is losing weight. Unfortunately, when they don’t lose as much as they hope, they give up. Science is clear. It didn’t take a week to put on the weight so it’s not coming off in a week.
If your resolution for 2021 is to lose weight, here are some things you can do:
Add more whole food to your diet. Fruits. Vegetables. Whole grains. Fish. Nuts. These are whole foods you should start gradually adding to your daily diet. You can also work on cutting back sugary drinks, alcohol, or processed foods.
Make more home-cooked meals. Home-cooked meals not only saves you money, it's known to be better for your mental state. Eating more home-cooked meals makes you less likely to be overweight and depressed. Prep one to two meals a week to start then add more as you get comfortable with the process.
Diet is a strong word. It scares people. You don't want to feel like you're restricting yourself. Little lifestyle choices are all you need to steer your weight loss resolution in the right direction.
Physical
With diet comes exercise. But believe it or not, physical resolutions don’t have to rely on going to the gym three days a week. How many people do you know — yourself included — who bought a gym membership in January? How many of them canceled it months later?
If you’re serious about losing weight, you need to exercise. But getting physical — cue the Olivia Newton-John song — is more than running or lifting weights.
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Here are some easy changes you can make to your day to get yourself more physical:
Get up and move. Sitting too long can lead to back and neck injuries. A lot of people have made the switch to standing desks and noticed a difference instantly. Try setting a reminder to go off once an hour. When it chimes, get up, stretch, take a short walk. Go to the kitchen for some water. Whatever you do, stay up and active for at least five minutes.
Get outside. I talked in a previous post about how walking was a huge escape for people during the height of lockdowns. Fresh air helps relieve stress and lower blood pressure. Even if twenty minutes is all you can spare, use that time to get outside.
Be kinder to your body. I put this under physical because we’re so critical of our bodies. Negative body talk does nothing to help your self-esteem. Make a resolution to take part in positive body talk. Not only will you improve your mental health, you’ll encourage others to do the same.
Emotional
The months spent in quarantine opened your eyes to the need for self-care. It’s so important for everyone to take a few moments to themselves. If not once a day, at least four times a week. Five minutes, fifteen minutes, an hour if you can.
Self-care is anything that brings you joy. It can be a hobby, a walk, a nap. Whatever brings you to a state of peace and calming is what you should do whenever you can.
Here are some self-care habits to consider for your 2021 resolutions:
Get more sleep. The pandemic made time disappear. You were lucky to know what day or month it was. Because of endless time at home, your sleep schedule also disappeared. To get more sleep in the new year, do your best to go to bed at the same time every night and wake up the same time every day. Even on weekends.
Limit screen time. Social media has given us a lot of funny memes during this pandemic. But it also increased our eye strain and anxiety. Set a resolution to limit your screen time. Again, start small. Say you’ll get off your phone an hour before bedtime. Set your phone to “Do Not Disturb” from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am.
Take a trip. Yes, it's not easy traveling during a pandemic, but a short weekend trip is vital to your mental state. We all need a change of scenery. Don’t overthink this. Simply going to your favorite local spot for a day trip or spending the weekend in a secluded cabin is all you need. The point is to give yourself time to step away. To clear your head.
Planning how these resolutions will fit into your life is key
Only do the ones you know you can achieve. The problem with resolutions is the pedestal we put ourselves on. We aim too high. This isn't a bad thing, but if you want to achieve something, you have to consider the time you can devote to it.
Start small, take your schedule into account, and add on habits when you feel capable.
Whatever your resolutions are for 2021, it’s safe to say we’ve all learned to not take things for granted. Resolve to continue the trend of checking in on family and friends in 2021. As much as we’d like to return to normal, we need to prepare in case it takes longer than we hope.
If one of your resolutions is to get organized, I’m happy to help. An organized home is a fast track towards a clear mind. Let me know what kind of help you’re looking for and let’s make a plan for the new year together.