Many of you may read the title of this article and laugh, wondering if it’s even possible for 2021 to not be a better year by default. 2020 has been….challenging. In many different ways, from the obvious tragedy, anxiety, stress, and fear of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic distress to increasingly fractured social groups, 2020 may have permanently altered American life.
A lot of people were devastated by the loss of certain iconic celebrities: Chadwick Boseman, Kobe Bryant, Sean Connery, Eddie Van Halen, Regis Philbin, etc. The list goes on and on.
Other people were considerably more disturbed by violence and unrest in the streets and the tumultuous socio-political atmosphere that seems to be dividing us.
It seems generally agreed upon that 2020 was one of the weirdest and most turbulent years in recent memory. With that said, a new year is fast approaching and there’s a chance for us to collectively turn things around and right this ship.
On an individual basis, there are things you can do to position yourself for a better year in 2021.
Try alternative medicines, treatments, and exercises
As they say, all you have is your health. There is an element of truth to this. Anyone who has experienced a severe illness, injury, disease, or chronic pain will tell you to be thankful for the times when you’re healthy.
Especially during the pandemic, it’s been challenging for some people to get the medical treatment they need. Many patients with cancer or severe illness are afraid to leave the house, worried that Covid-19 could worsen their condition or even kill them. As a result, some people are embracing alternative treatments.
A new non-invasive alternative cancer therapy, known as hyperthermia cancer treatment, heats up cells to 113°F to kill or weaken cancer proteins. Such a treatment is believed to work synergistically with other anti-cancer treatments to shrink tumors.
Other alternative treatments for conditions like chronic pain include cognitive therapies, behavioral therapies, and physical therapies. Many elderly people now use CBD oil to relieve the pain of arthritis.
If you’re used to using a gym for your exercise, try something new, like yoga or jogging.
Work on making yourself less isolated or claustrophobic
One of the biggest 2020 challenges for people who live alone is dealing with isolation and alienation. Coupled with social distance mandates, quarantines, and just the general fear of crowds during a pandemic, many people have taken to bunkering into their homes, which is probably the safest and smartest course of action. The problem with this is that it can lead to depression, anxiety, and severe loneliness.
Conversely, people who live with a family, or at least significant others or housemates, have found themselves feeling claustrophobic and irritable. Given that many of us have spent a good chunk of 2020 in quarantine, or at least social distancing, hopefully 2021 will be less alienating.
At the very least, get used to using technology and virtual apps to stay in touch with people. Platforms like Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, etc. are not difficult to use and are free, meaning that you can still have face to face interactions with loved ones during the pandemic.
Practice positivity
Words like positivity and mindfulness have been thrown around so much in recent years that there’s almost been a backlash to them. Many people feel like they can’t afford to be mindful or that they don’t have the time for positivity. Is it practical to walk around smiling when there’s so much to stress about?
The truth is that this tip is actually interconnected with the others. Learning to calm and center yourself will improve your health and will foster more beneficial exercise routines. Practicing positivity will improve your relationships and make your daily life more pleasant.
This isn’t to say that you should walk around grinning and saying that everything is wonderful when that’s clearly not the case. But there’s also little good that will come from walking around with a scowl on your face and laying in bed all day brooding about your life.
The good news is that you can find wonderful free videos on YouTube showing you practical methods for integrating positivity and mindfulness into your life and embracing the present.
Embracing the present may be the single most important key to 2021.
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Their answers can be random and in the moment or they can be aligned with the current article they have written.
In that way, and as a team, we hope to encourage and motivate each other, thus inspiring you to Get All A’s.
1. What have you accepted within your life, physically and/or mentally? Additionally, what are you still working on accepting? Now, we’re talking about resignation, rather than stepping into, embraced, and owned.
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