Happy 2020! Here are a few ideas to make it your best year yet
Happy New Year! This time of year brings a mixture of emotions for me. Sadness that the holidays and festivities are over. Sadness that there are still many long, dark, cold days left in winter. And excitement at the prospect of a new year, a fresh start, and new possibilities.
Whether you have big plans, new goals, or are just hopeful for a good 2020, I would like to share a few ideas to make it easier to have your best year yet. I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear that these ideas are centered around ways you can spend more of your time feeling good.
Just think about it; have you noticed how feeling more positive makes everything else easier? When I’m calm, grateful, or optimistic, I’m more patient, motivated, and can think more clearly. When I’m less stressed and frustrated, it’s easier to deal with life’s everyday challenges.
So if you would like to make it easier to achieve your goals, to have better relationships, and to be happier in 2020, consider trying these ideas when you need a boost:
- Change your thinking to notice more of the good. This goes back to the idea that we can get better at pausing, noticing our thoughts and feelings, and choosing what we focus on.
- Change your body to mimic a happy, positive stance. Try a fake smile and an open posture. Our body language provides feedback to our brains on how we feel.
- Change what you’re doing. Do something that makes you feel good or brings you joy. Listen to upbeat music. Talk to a friend. Spend time doing a hobby. Get moving.
- Change where you are. Move to a different environment, room, or get outside. Our surroundings can impact our mood and sometimes we just need a change of scenery to shift how we feel.
This next year is going to go by fast! It’s so easy to spend a lot of time in our natural default mode of feeling stressed, worried, and discouraged. But if you use some of these ideas, even just once in a while, you can make this year your best year yet.
