Taking Small Steps For Big Change in 2021

Dear 2021, this year it's about me!

This year has been a very interesting and trying year for the entire globe. Many of us have had to spend a lot of time at home which has led to MANY different things, both bad and good. Some people have been inspired and finally had the time to do what they wanted in life- many people started businesses online and are enjoying the time at home. On the other end of the spectrum, many physical businesses were greatly hurt and impacted- many companies and shops had to close down. Many people became financially unstable, and many people became depressed. With all of these crazy events and emotions around us daily, setting goals for this new year will be harder and a bit unpredictable. Here is a list of things that you can for SURE do, and they just might help you feel a tiny bit better in your daily routines. Goodbye 2020, hello future opportunities!

1. Morning/evening routine

This is probably going to be the most difficult goal on this list- and also the most rewarding. While creating a morning routine is probably more ideal than an evening one, it might be unrealistic or just too big of a jump for some people (and that's okay!). Any small change you make in your life that is for the better will greatly impact you in the long run; that being said, if you're going to be better at sticking to an evening/nighttime routine than a morning one, do it! Adjust these things to better suit you and fit your personal needs. Morning routines can consist of as much or as little as you want, so feel free to add or subtract to your list whenever you want. Here are a couple of ideas to bring your day or night a little bit of joy and gratitude.

-Say 1 thing you're grateful for as you sip your morning coffee/tea. If you like, enjoy this experience outside.

-Read a couple of positive affirmations to yourself, out loud if you can

-Research some simple stretches and find which ones feel best. Incorporate them into your morning when you get out of bed, or at night before you get in bed. If you already do this, or you'd like to take it one step farther, research sun salutation yoga and use that as your morning wake up & ground session. It's a very quick and easy routine to do.

2. Self-Care Day

Pick one day of the week to do 1 item of self-care. It could be a bath, a night out, a night in to be lazy and watch movies with popcorn, it could be a nature walk... whatever it is that brings you joy.

3. Books!!

Books of any kind are great productive stimulation, but it's also good to try to slip a self-help book in every once in a while as well. If you do read already, make it a goal to add some self-help books into your library. Many people think they don't like reading when they simply haven't found the right reading material- this isn't the case for everyone, but if you have a hard time finding a book you like, try finding informational books on things you're interested in. Do you like animals? Get a national geographic book. Do you love to work on cars? Try a book about building or repairing cars. Is cooking your thing? Try some cookbooks, or branch out and try something new like fermentation or canning. IF books just are NOT your thing, that is also okay! Try podcasts or books on tape. Again, look for things that interest you- podcasts about astrology, or maybe you like investigative stories or philosophy. Find what suits you best.

4. Journaling

While this image comes with an angsty teenage girl, this is not the kind of journaling I'm referring to. It is important that we all become a little more in tune with our feelings and why we feel the way we feel, so that we can begin to feel better. The web is FULL of hundreds upon hundreds of free journaling prompts to promote self-awareness or to just get your brain thinking a little. If you so desire, you may journal passed that and use it as a tool for understanding your own emotions. Go to your journal when you're upset or sad, or even happy and excited. Write about how you feel, why you feel that way and maybe something you could do to help you better handle the situation next time. Sometimes there isn't always a better way, just write about what feels right to you.

5. Stay Hydrated

Last and absolutely the most important goal on this list, stay hydrated. This is another thing you can add to your morning routine- a big glass of water before any other drinks go in your body. However, we need to stay hydrated more than just in the mornings; If you have a hard time remembering to drink water, or you're not particularly fond of the flavor, you can add water flavoring packets and set a timer on your phone at noon, and again in the evening reminding you to hydrate (or more or less- depending on what you personally are able to do. If you don't drink a lot of water its best to not try to drink a gallon a day, but work up to it!).