Whilst the challenges of 2020 didn’t disappear at the stroke of midnight on New Years’ Eve, there seems to be a renewed energy at the start of 2021, as we start to take control of our lives once again.
With the announcement that ten million first doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been given to some of the most vulnerable people in the UK, there is some light at the end of the ‘Covid-19 Tunnel.’
Focusing on the incredible progress that science and society are making helps us have a sense of optimism for the year ahead.
But it’s also a useful exercise to pause and take a moment to reflect on our own lives over the past year and identify how you can make the most of the year ahead. Jinny Ditzler sets this out brilliantly in her book ‘Your Best Year Yet.’
Here are three questions that can help build enthusiasm and sustainable momentum for 2021.
Discussing them with a friend or partner can help you identify things you may have forgotten or may offer an alternative perspective on things.
1. Ask yourself, what did I accomplish in 2020?
The Coronavirus pandemic caused personal and professional upheaval in 2020.
Many people had to face up to challenges they couldn’t possibly have predicted a year before.
As human beings, we have an amazing capacity for remembering our failures whilst completely forgetting our successes. If you take a moment to consider this question, you may expect the worst, but you’ll most likely find you achieved more in 2020 than you had previously dared give yourself credit for.
Reflecting on the way you responded to adversity helps to build confidence in your own abilities and resourcefulness.
What other progress and accomplishments did you make? Whether it was moving to a new house, starting or completing a big renovation project, caring for those around you, building new relationships with neighbours or re-kindling connections with friends. It might be that to survive lockdown you embraced technology as never before. Sustaining yourself financially and mentally can also be cause for celebration.
Whilst lockdown meant many of our activities were restricted, were there any places you did get to, and people you did see?
Having stepped up and done our very best in 2020 we have developed an inner strength that can’t be taken away from us. Now it’s time to put it to good use.
2. What have you learnt in 2020?
Have you made some discoveries that surprised you?
Perhaps you realise you have reserves of resilience and a strength of character you didn’t previously know you had. Or has working from home made you rethink your career goals? By not travelling due to lockdown restrictions, have you realised how important travelling is to you?
Or have you missed the great outdoors and want to spend more time out and about exploring in the future?
What hasn’t worked well over the past year that you would like to do differently in the future?
We’re all so busy reacting to circumstances, we can end up feeling that our lives are out of our control.
This means the things that are most important to us aren’t getting enough attention.
A moment of reflection can prevent us from repeating the same cycle over and over.
3. What are my intentions for 2021?
“Looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them. You may not get the things themselves; but nothing can prevent you from having the fun of looking forward to them.” L.M. Montgomery
Some people may feel reluctant to think ahead because there’s still so much uncertainty in the world.
Others might still be trying to shake off some of the negativity that clouded our experiences as we dealt with 2020’s many challenges.
But being intentional about how we spend our time in 2021 gives us a sense of being back in control.
You can start by asking yourself how can I make 2021 a better year drawing on what I have learnt from 2020? What do/did I enjoy that I would like to do more of? Which of the following areas would you like to give more focus and attention to in 2021?
- Relationships
- Purpose/Mission/Career
- Hobbies
- Contribution
- Finances
- Managing your time
The important thing is to take the time to think about what you really want from life, then break that down into the steps needed to make it happen.