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For most of the nation 2020 has been a year that they are glad to see the back of but just what is going to happen at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve? Many individuals are pinning all their hopes for a better year on the change from 2020 to 2021. With an extensive vaccination programme on the way they may be right to look forward to a year that finally gets the better of Covid-19 but likely it will still take a long time for the nation to heal and recover. So, is saying goodbye to 2020 really going to make us all feel better? Perhaps there is a better way to face forward into 2021.

Out with the old and in with the new
Traditional new year’s resolutions may seem redundant this year as the festive season has been an altered, more muted one and our thoughts have generally turned to meeting more simple needs like achieving good health and seeing family where possible. With all the challenges that the nation has faced this year, having a weight loss goal or giving up chocolate may seem to be somewhat less significant. If 2020 has taught us anything then it is to celebrate the little things in life and to be kind to ourselves so maybe our hopes for the New Year should reflect that too.

Here are some suggestions that perhaps run a little deeper and speak a little softer than the usual gym membership and weight loss goals.

Be kind to yourself
We are all facing tough times right now. Life has not been normal and will likely not be normal for a while to come. With all of the additional stressors that we have faced this year there has never been a better time to stop being so hard on yourself and cut yourself a little slack. We are often our own worst enemy and our harshest critic. Try thinking of the advice you would give to a friend going through the same thing and change that inner voice to be kinder to yourself.

Accept who you are
The use of social media has been increased during these times whilst we’ve been unable to meet up in person. This can be a lifeline for staying in touch, but it becomes all too easy to compare yourself to your peers. Remember you only see snapshots of smiley faces and achievements and not the full story behind them. Accept that you are your own person with different likes, priorities and different challenges so your day will be filled with different things to pretty much everyone else and accept that it is ok to be you.

Let go of perfectionism
There is a famous saying… “Start with the tools you have, and better tools will be found along the way”. All too often in life we place a lot of importance on making sure everything is perfect before we take action and this can cause us to procrastinate on our goals. By not letting perfection be the enemy of good you can start on the road toward your goal and celebrate the little steps that you are taking. Life is constantly changing so why shouldn’t our path to our goals?

Celebrate the little wins
Appreciating the little things in life has become an art form for some during lockdown, shielding and the challenges of the past year. Celebrating when we do something well encompasses all of the above points. As humans we are programmed to remember events that stand out to us, it’s part of our survival instinct, but do we really need to remember embarrassing or upsetting moments from a long time ago? If we were hardwired to celebrate the happy moments to the same extent, then we would all be laughing like children and bursting with happy memories. We may all be a little out of practice at singing our own praises though so by celebrating the little things that make us happy each day we can learn to reset our programming and change our inner dialog.

Have a Happy New Year 2021
Life may be full of challenges right now but when we can’t change the situation, we can change our response. So whatever 2021 has in store for you, remember to be kind to yourself and celebrate your wins no matter how small they are.

Nutri Advanced has a thorough research process and for any references included, each source is scrutinised beforehand. We aim to use the highest value source where possible, referencing peer-reviewed journals and official guidelines in the first instance before alternatives. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate at time of publication on our editorial policy.