Rest, Reflect, and Look Ahead
Normally, December is a hectic month - hectic feels like an understatement this year. If you are fortunate to be able to take a break during this last week of December, please focus on recovering from this challenging year. Prioritize sleep, escape the confines of your home by taking a walk or watching a movie in an exotic location, eat well and have a few treats (it is the holidays). If you are unable to gather with friends and family, reach out to them, and finally, take some time to reflect on this unusual year. What did you learn about yourself and how can you apply this knowledge to making 2021 better, no matter what comes your way?
Taking a break from daily routines is critical. The stress related to negative news, concerns for family and friends, activity risk calculations, college application deadlines, fatigue related to increased screen time, and the sadness associated with missed gatherings are wearing on us all. How do we recover from these stressors? Is it even possible? Unfortunately, there is no one answer. I would recommend taking some time for yourself and focusing on what brings you joy. If possible, go to your happy place, do your favorite activity, and/or get in touch with your favorite people. Whatever it is you do to recharge and refresh, now is the time to do all the things that make you feel good. If for some reason, you are not able to recover, reach out to a loved one and ask for help.
When you find some time, reflect on 2020. I have no doubt that the challenges of 2020 will come to mind easily, but make sure you also consider how you met those challenges. Challenges in and of themselves are not bad. Sometimes they are necessary for growth. How did you grow this year? Most of us are more technologically savvy than we were last year. Some us became amazing cooks, while others learned new skills and/or became more patient. Gratitude is another important focus area. What and who are you grateful for this year? Personally, I am immensely grateful for my extended family and how they helped my immediate family make it through 2020. Make sure you let your gratitude be known.
After resting and reflecting, set your sights on 2021. Try setting intentions instead of resolutions for the new year. Do your best to set realistic intentions. Be holistic with your intentions. If you want to focus on better time management try the following options instead of aiming to accomplishing a specific goal by a deadline: concentrate on smaller areas of your life that impact your ability to accomplish items on your to do list—start with getting enough rest. This will enable you to get up early, have more time to get ready for the day, and not feel rushed. Another option is taking some time on Sunday to review the week ahead and plan. This will help you pinpoint challenging times and give you more time to create workarounds. Finally, pick a day each month to check in with your intentions and see how you are doing in terms of meeting them. This will provide you with an opportunity to honestly consider the scope of your intentions and make necessary changes to course correct if needed.
As we conclude 2020 and look to brighter 2021, I encourage everyone to prepare for 2021. Start the year strong by being well rested and relaxed. Use hindsight and the superpowers you developed dealing with challenges in 2020 to set intentions for areas you wish to improve upon in 2021. Happy New Year and Good Luck!