You may have many goals, ambitions and hopes for the new year, which as of the time of writing is only a couple of days away. Of course, no one would blame you for feeling slightly dazed after bracing your way through 2020. Everything has been pretty strange and unpredictable, after all. In any case, making it through to the new year is no small feat. Whether you still harbour ambitions or goals or just about made it through, you’re still standing, and that shows how strong your spirit is. *A well-deserved pat on the back for weathering the storm that was 2020. 

It’s also important to recognize that we may not feel energetic or high spirited after such a tumultuous year. Low energy can often lead to feeling out of sorts, anxious, unsure, and sometimes, uninspired. As with many things in life, striking a healthy balance is crucial. You still deserve to pursue your hopes and dreams without fear or feeling as though you’re asking too much of yourself. Today let’s explore how to strike this balance and plan for a fearless and healthy 2021 following a difficult year. 

Consider Your Finances

Even if you’re not affluent or expecting a huge consistent income, you can still get your finances in order. Everyone can benefit from consistent budgeting. You might plan your incomings and outgoings every month in a simple excel sheet, or even via the notes app on your phone. There are many other excellent tools out there to help you budget, such as You Need A Budget or Evernote. But even a squared paper notebook and pen can help you calculate your outgoings each month.

Keeping track of your spending will help you feel more in control of your finances. Meaning you will move into the new year knowing what you can afford, and what you can’t. You can then plan for financial assistance such as guarantor loans from Buddy Loans where needed to move ahead with your 2021 goals. Little efforts like this can make all the difference to your future.

Write Down What You Need

Bounding into the next year and hoping everything turns out okay is a fine strategy, and many people do it. That said, writing down the specifics about what you want, and any actionable steps needed will help you stay accountable. It’s okay if you’re not sure what’s most important to you straight away. It’s hard for us all to come to those conclusions from time to time, especially if you’re not usually someone who has lofty goals or massive ambitions.

Maybe you want to repair a relationship with a family member, be a little kinder to yourself and others, volunteer time to important causes, or start a new business. Those are all noble goals and should be lauded. But it’s hard to know exactly how you want to improve if you don’t practice self-reflection every from time to time.

Writing down a few notes, or doing morning pages is a fantastic step in the right direction. In fact, taking the time for self-reflection can often help you feel more assured and confident in your new direction. If journaling helps you organize your thoughts, surely it should be considered a worthy aid to achieving your goals?

Focus on a New Hobby or Ambition

It feels wonderful to have something new and impactful in your life. A new hobby or ambition can help you wake up in the morning with even more joy and enthusiasm. Perhaps you hope to read some classic Greek plays and epic poems to help out with your studies next year, or because you’re truly interested in the period and what they might contain.

Maybe you want to try out a new solo-sport to get more exercise in a safe, socially-distanced manner. Or you want to be a bit kinder to yourself, spending at least one night a week reflecting on the past seven days and taking a lovely, long bath. When you have something new to pursue, you can experience an invigorated zest for life. You don’t have to do anything awe-inspiring to feel this way. Just do what feels right. With a little introspection, you’ll no doubt know the answer. *Hurries off to start journaling. 

Don’t Be Afraid To Express Your Needs To Others

Of course, it’s good knowing your needs, but expressing them when needed is important too. It might be that you need to talk with your partner about your desire to follow a new diet, which means that you’ll have to purchase new ingredients and spend more time cooking each evening. If you don’t express how important this is to you, your partner might not pay it the heed it deserves.

We can forever find ourselves people-pleasing and putting our own needs last. Which, in the end, bears little fruit for us, or the people around us. Don’t let yourself fall into these difficult to break and unhappy habits. Make your needs clear, and ask other people to respect them. For some, this effort can be the best and most impactful step in moving to the new year with courage.

You’ve Got This

A little encouragement from time to time is all we need. You’ve got this. Take it day by day, step by step. Be kind to yourself. Over time, you’ll see just how amazing you can be when you believe in yourself. Good luck in your journey, and remember, don’t just survive in 2021, thrive.

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