5 Simple ways to prepare yourself for 2021

In case you were asleep over the last few days, 2021 is finally here!

I have to admit that despite all of the curveballs that 2020 threw our way, I did enjoy the year. It was so much fun being able to work in my pajamas, laying in bed with a cup of tea. Having my husband around all the time was also a blessing that I will never take for granted. Especially with the hectic jobs that we both have! And spending time teaching and playing with my toddler was just amazing.

I will admit that there were many things that sucked, like catching CoVID-19 or having to cancel a few trips. Looking back on this year, there have been many things that went wrong. However, the hidden blessings were so much more!

Now with the CoVID-19 vaccine at bay, it almost feels a little scary for life to go back to normal. Well, normal is relative now since things will never really be the same again. But that does not mean that the new and improved lives we lead don’t have to be fun! What we do need to do is slowly prepare ourselves for what is to come so as to prevent a shock to our systems in 2021. Here’s how:

Start setting a proper routine

You see, we humans need to have a routine to function normally. As disorganized as some of us may be, just the mere fact that you wake up and eat meals at a certain time every day is already a routine you have in place. With life-shifting back to what was, we need to prepare ourselves mentally and physically, well in advance. 

Before lockdown happened, I used to wake up at 4:30 am each weekday. It sounds crazy now, but I did in order to attend the 5:00 am CrossFit class. Once restrictions were put in place, that routine obviously went out the door. Admittedly, changing from a 4:30 am schedule to 8:00 am wasn’t too hard. But switching back definitely will be!

What I will be doing is slowly bringing back elements of a normal routine. It may not seem like much, but making small changes every day should have you ready for the busier days ahead. This may be as simple as setting your alarm clock back in fifteen-minute increments. Or taking a shower first thing in the morning. It’s also important to get out of your PJs as soon as possible to trick your brain into thinking that you are going out. Whatever it is that you used to do, start doing it again.

Speak to your company about their 2021 plans

Of course, no one has a crystal ball. If they do, it surely didn’t predict 2020 and definitely can’t predict what 2021 will look like. In South Africa, most companies have started looking at plans to get employees back either in Q1 or Q2. What this means for me is that I need to mentally prepare for this extended ‘holiday’ to end. Getting an idea of when you are expected to be back and working your new routine accordingly should help you ease back.

This would also be a good time to sort out your budget. Factor in the extra fuel. Shift things around to cater to your expected expenditures. You would do well to budget your time as well. How will you be allocating your free time? Will you continue the hobbies you’ve recently adopted or scratch them out? Now is the time to start thinking about what you want your year to look like.

Change your diet

This may seem a little random, but the relationship between your gut, brain, and mood is significant. Eating healthier meals will assist in reducing the sluggish feeling from spending most of your days at home. So add your greens, eat more fiber, and ditch all of the junk. Change is never easy on our bodies, so making sure we approach the new year physically prepared will take quite a bit of pressure off your psyche.

Also, if you aren’t already having rainbow meals, I would suggest taking daily vitamins.

Add some exercise for a fitter 2021

Implementing some light to moderate exercise is also important to get your body ready to move again. I personally have been out of action since July of 2020 when I caught the virus but will be setting a new routine now that the festive season has passed. The key to making sure you stick with a healthy routine is to start small and work your way up. Oftentimes people come up with long lists of things they want to achieve and work really hard at it for the first week or two. And then the fatigue kicks in and they fall back to square one.

This coming year, don’t get caught up in making impossibly long goals or resolutions. Focus on changing one small thing here and there so as to make it part of your lifestyle.

Don’t forget to breathe in a bit of reality

Last on the list, which should probably be the first, is to breathe. It is true that this year will only be as good as you make it. But you also need to remember that things didn’t magically change when the clock struck twelve four nights ago. Keep the slow pace that 2020 taught you, make every move intentional and really experience things. You will only be able to achieve all of your goals if you aim for the best and prepare for the worst. We learned very hard lessons last year so that we can be prepared to conquer this one. You can do it!

What are some things you would add to the list? Will you be heading back to school/work during the first quarter of 2021?

Coming soon… Olivia Lucie Blake and I will be launching a blogging strategy plan. Make sure to join either of our mailing lists to get first dibs on the course!