New Year Resolutions, Pandemic Style

December 10, 2020

Here we are, collectively crawling, physically and emotionally exhausted to the finish line of 2020. And since this is typically the time of year folks start making New Year Resolutions, I thought I’d jump in with my two cents…

First off, hats off to you for making it this far. I feel like we’ve been living in real-life Hunger Games between invisible deadly viruses, devastating fires, bouts of limited supplies, and a system that continues to build its infrastructure around exploiting marginalized communities. Folks have lost their jobs lost their homes, and lost their lives. Our education system is teetering on a fine edge, and so are your last nerves. But here you are, reading this blog, and for that I applaud you. Seriously.

Now, let’s talk about how you may (or may not) have been dealing with this past year.

The possibilities for coping with 2020 are endless. But if you found yourself on the “over-indulgent” end of things (be it food, booze, smoking, binge-watching, etc), you might be looking at 2021 as an opportunity to quit some habits that have gotten a little extra this year. And I'm gonna tell you...

via GIPHY

Just because we turn the page to a new year doesn’t mean we’re not still living in a pandemic. In fact, with shorter days, colder weather, and our COVID numbers increasing, chances are, we could be looking at even more challenging times ahead. So I ask you, is now the time to add the extra stress of a New Year’s Resolution? …maybe not.

Instead, I’d like to invite you to try something a little different.

Resolving to do something is a big commitment, and with that comes a lot of pressure. And since we’re all under a bit of extra pressure these days, maybe we could welcome 2021 with something a little gentler. Perhaps more forgiving. And certainly more practical and attainable.

Sound good? Great, keep reading…

SO, instead of a New Year Resolution, how about a New Year Intention?

How do you want 2021 to feel?

I’m willing to bet your adjective had a positive spin on it, yes?

Of course it did.

However you want 2021 to feel, it’s going to take living with intention to get it.

I love intention because it isn’t definitive. It feels a bit looser, like the boundaries can ebb and flow with ever-changing circumstances.

Intention feels more like a theme, rather than one concrete thing.

So, intention pretty much boils down to two things; purpose and attitude.

What’s the purpose behind wanting this 2021 vibe? Why is it important that 2021 feels this way? And what kind of attitude will create this feeling?

Let’s practice…

Grab a notebook, and at the top write: 2021’s Intentional Living Checklist
Write the following sentence: This year I will focus on feeling [INSERT FEELING HERE].
Write a list of reasons WHY feeling this way is important to you and HOW this feeling could benefit your life.
What kind mindset aligns with your 2021 vibe? List the thoughts and beliefs that would support this goal.
What are some actions you can take that will ensure you feel this way? What can you do to help maintain your mindset? What activities align with your purpose?
And finally, write a statement that gives you permission to be flexible with this intention. Life is challenging and sometimes we need a break from “doing the work”. It’s ok to have moments of overwhelm or anger. You’re allowed to have all the feelings. But you also deserve to show up for yourself and create a life that’s healthy, balanced, and peaceful.

And that’s it! Now you have a checklist to refer to when 2021 starts pushing your buttons and you need a reset. Keeping a simple tool like this around will remind you of what you truly want in life. It will also remind you of the steps you’ll need to take to achieve the vibe you want. Oh, and newsflash, you can ALWAYS update and modify your lists. You get to create the rules.

And you know what, while we're at it, let's say, fuck it, to calling it a "New Year Anything". If you're ready now, awesome. Get crackin'. If not, you know where to find your list...

And speaking of creating your own rules, you might want to learn more about developing Self-Care Independence!