We’re already one month down in 2021, so it’s time to focus on ways you can make 2021 your year. One of the strongest lessons that came from Covid and lockdowns was the need to implement more self-care into your routines, being more present and slowing down to focus on a healthier happier you.

What does a healthier you look like? 

It’s not just about exercise and food, it’s also about your emotional wellbeing. They all feed each other and when they’ve aligned everything flourishes.

Here are some ways you can make 2021 your year:

Implementing Daily Exercises

Do you find it a struggle to fit daily exercises into your life? Yep me too! However, when you make the commitment and lock it in your diary….results can happen. Exercising first thing in the morning is beneficial to your body, and amazing for your mindset. The bonus when doing your exercises first thing is you have the remainder of the day to do as you please!

Your daily exercise can be a brisk walk, jog, run, meditation, yoga, pilates, gym workout or swim. 30 minutes a day is a great way to start.

If you find it boring or you really struggle to keep motivated, find a buddy to do it with you. Alternatively, utilise your time to pop on those headphones and catch up on some audible book reading, podcasts or chill to the sweet sounds of music.

The more exercises you do, the more it becomes a part of your daily routine and you will find yourself looking forward to it.
Don’t forget that exercising releases endorphins. Endorphins trigger positive feelings in the body, which makes for a happy you.

Creating Healthy Eating Habits

Are you always talking about getting back to ‘healthy eating’? Here is the trick we heard all the health experts say, that planned meals mean no temptations and no regrets.

Take the time to plan your weekly meals. Most health gurus spend some part of their Sundays doing meal preparations for the week. Jump on board! It’s amazing how much stress it takes out of your day trying to think of meals, and you’ll even find yourself spending less time getting food ready. Knowing it’s simply a case of bringing the component together, makes for a smoother routine and no sneaking in the bad stuff and feeling guilty for it.

Rising To New Challenges ‘Your Buck List’

Make a list of things you would like to try (your buck-list) but still haven’t gotten around to doing. Write your list and then map out a strategy on how you’re going to achieve them.You might focus on one goal per month, or combine the goals into your weekly routines.

For example; reading more books. You might already read 1 book a month but you want to read more. You can make a commitment to go to bed early and read for 30 minutes. Or commit to reading 10 pages every day. That means in 30 days you’ve read pretty much a book, or increase your daily read to 20 pages and you’ll find you’ve read 2 books a month. Alternatively, you can mix it up with both hardcopy and audibles.

Remembering to be present

Life is noisy and often very fast-paced. Make a daily practice to stop and be in the present moment. This might be a simple 5 minute practice during your lunch break. Simply close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, sense how your body is feeling, what you can hear, smell and feel. Keep breathing to relax and clear your mind.  This is a great quick form of meditation, helping to bring you back to centre.

Building Connections

Connecting with family and friends is important for you as much as it is for them. Make a commitment to catch up with those close to you regularly, lock those dates in.

Have you lost connection with someone unintentionally, reach out. Give them a call. Say hi, check in on how they’re going. A simple hello can make the biggest impact in someone’s life as well as your own.

Digital Detoxing

Everyone seems to have their heads in their phones or laptops. Make a commitment to digitally switch off at least once a week. You will be surprised at how much your device chews up your time. You will also notice more wonderful things around you. Utilise this time to do those things that bring you joy.

Book in date nights

Relationships and marriage are a constant work in progress, and working on them always ensures communication flows. Life, especially when children come along, gets pretty busy. It’s important to make the commitment to each other, and date nights are a great way to do this. It doesn’t mean you have to go out, as getting baby sitters can be expensive or difficult. A date night could be as simple as a quiet dinner when the kids are in bed, a glass of wine and a chat. Making the time to listen and talk to each other is both fulfilling and emotionally connecting.

Establishing Healthy Boundaries

Finding yourself constantly being pulled from pillar to post, struggling to say no and always doing everything for everyone else, leaving little or no time for yourself. Healthy boundaries and say no, is not being selfish or mean, it’s in fact being caring to yourself. You are allowed to say no without explanation, you can also simply respond with ‘let me think about it’ or ‘I’ll come back to you on that’.

If there are things in your life you are doing not because you want to but because you’ve been made to feel you should. Let them go. Create room for more of what makes you smile, brings you joy and opens you to possibilities that are aligned to you.

The things that bring you joy

Do more of what brings you joy. Perhaps it’s reconnecting with old hobbies, stopping to slowly sip that hot tea or coffee, dancing, trying new things. Whatever it is, big or small, bring more of it into your life. Find yourself again. Commit to do one activity that brings you joy weekly.

Make 2021 a year about YOU. Just like a recipe, add in all the ingredients that make you feel happy, joyful, whole and enjoying as many moments in your life as you can.

What things are you going to do this year to focus on YOU? Tell us in the comments below.