The lyrics in Dinah Washington’s song “What a Difference A Day Makes” hit home for me this year. 2020 and 2021 have brought about such dramatic changes. We were all forever changed due to the pandemic. Day to day life, businesses, and the health of millions of people around the world changed in an instant. It has put a strain on our healthcare system, affected everyone economically, and socially many of us were isolated from family and friends. Only together can we overcome the intertwined health and social and economic impacts of the pandemic.
Mental health providers have encouraged people to wind up the year as normal as possible. If you made a list of goals in the past, do the same for 2022. Here are some things to do before the year ends, so you can start 2022 off on the right foot.
Take Care of Your Health
Remember your goal to focus on your health this year? Doctors’ offices were closed in many cities for months so people have missed their annual check-ups. There is still time to make your health and well-being a priority before the year ends. Go for your annual check-up at the doctor’s office, or make that dental appointment. Even seemingly small things like drinking more water each day can make a difference.
Don’t forget your mental health & make time for self-care. Activities like meditation, yoga, Thai Chi and guided breathing are a great way to de-stress and take care of your mental well-being as well. There are several apps available such as Calm, Stop Breathe & Think, and Headspace to help relieve stress and even have reminders to carve out some personal time for yourself each day. There are also lots of free videos on YouTube. We also have a post with information on Apps to Relieve Stress. Read a book, take a bubble bath, or do an at-home facial. The key is to take time for yourself.
Learn Something New
Another great thing to do before the year is over is to learn something new. This can range from learning a new language, taking dance lessons, reading a book on a topic you are curious about, or learning how to cook a new recipe. Choose something that you are interested in and challenge yourself to learn as much as you can about it. There are apps like Duolingo that help you learn new languages, and Youtube has hundreds of tutorials on everything from learning an instrument to cooking & car repairs.
Save Money
It’s never too late to start saving money. Whether you are saving up for that next vacation or just want to save some money for a rainy day, it’s good to have some funds set aside. Apps such as SmartyPig and Digit can help the saving-averse transfer funds into a savings account and reach their financial goals. Here are some money-saving travel resolutions.
Donate to a Worthy Cause (Time, Clothes, Food or Money)
The end of the year is when many charities are most in need. Whether you choose to donate your time or make a financial donation, donating to a worthy cause is one of the most impactful things you can do before the year comes to an end. Find a local or national charity that is close to your heart and donate what you can. Many charitable donations are also tax-deductible when you go to file next year’s taxes. If you don’t have money to donate, that’s ok. Volunteer for a beach clean-up, soup kitchen, or to help wrap gifts for a charity during the holidays. Another option is to go through and clean out your closet and give away gently used clothes to charity.
Organize
Declutter at least one area of your life. It can be as simple as organizing your photos and apps on your phone or motivating yourself to go through your closet, kitchen cabinets or that one junk drawer we all seem to have. It’s an easy way to feel positive & accomplished. Science shows that completing even an easy task actually triggers the reward center of our brain (dopamine) and makes us feel good.
Plan a Trip
If you can, start planning a trip for next year. It doesn’t have to be some faraway location. Check out our post on Close To Home Vacation ideas. Just a simple change of scenery can inspire you and give you a different perspective. Of course, since COVID is rapidly changing, you want to make sure and work with a travel agent so that you have the flexibility to cancel your trip in the future without losing your money. A lot of wholesalers we work with offer cancel for any reason insurance on vacation packages. Escorted tours and cruise vacation packages are now available to book through 2022 and even 2023 and 2024 with some companies.
Set Goals
Re-evaluate whatever you didn’t finish this year to see if it’s worth setting the came goal, or making a new list of goals for the upcoming year. Make sure you highlight your accomplishments. It’s easy to focus on what you didn’t do and forget all that you have done this year. Include goals that involve dealing with your health, as well as emotional, physical, and mental needs as mentioned above. Making a lot of money is of no use if you don’t have your health. It can be as simple as going for walks, reading a book, going out to eat by yourself, planting an herb garden, or eliminating one unhealthy habit in the coming year. Update your calendar with important dates for the new year.
Be Grateful
Gratitude is defined as being thankful, appreciative, and having an inclination to return kindness. Spend time with family and friends. Start a habit of focusing on the positive. Perhaps pick a mantra or positive affirmation to read each morning. The point is to start your day feeling happy so that you are more positive in all you do. Every year will have its high and low points. Avoid dwelling on the negative or getting stuck in the past. Never forget that each day is a blessing.
Other posts that may interest you include Feng Shui Good Luck Tips for the New Year, New Years Lucky Scents & Essentials Oils, New Year’s Superstitions to Travel More, New Years Lucky Colors and New Years Lucky Foods.
