5 Small Changes To Make for a Happier 2020
New Year, new you… or so they say. I believe that we are creatures of habit and that we never really change. Sure, we can improve our lives, but I also think we sometimes set ourselves up for failure. Every January, we set unachievable goals, high expectations and huge accomplishments we want to achieve by the end of the year. By February, half of those goals are forgotten about or are so unachievable, that we simply give up. This year, instead of setting targeted goals, try making small changes to make for a happier 2020. Of course, it’s important to have ambition and a purpose, but sometimes little changes are all we needed to feel fulfilled.
Start the new year with a social media free week. I took 5 days off over the holidays, and it was amazing. It was the first time (in over a decade) that I had gone 24+ hours without looking at my phone. There is something mentally cleansing about disconnecting from the online worlds and focusing your time on “real life” people in your life. I always thought it would be difficult to escape the net, especially for someone who has made a career out of being online, but it was surprisingly easy. My tip is to delete all the social media apps you use the most, right off the phone, so there is no temptation to use it.
Speaking of your phone, turn-off push notifications on all your social media apps. I never understood this feature, and actually never used it, but you don’t need to be notified every time someone likes one of your photos. This just encourages you to spend more time on the app (which the app wants you to do), but doesn’t help your happiness. I also suggest putting a time limit on how often you can use each app. You’ll get notified if and when you go over your set time, and you can then decide if it’s worth your happiness or not.
It is recommended that you respond to all business emails within the first 12 hours. I don’t know about you, but I can’t remember the last time my inbox was actually empty. Not only does it bring me a ton of stress (I catch myself thinking about emails late at night, while I’m in bed), it’s also not very professional. In 2020, try to keep up with that never-ending inbox. It will bring you so much joy to see your inbox clear at the end of each day. Set aside some time in the evening, maybe before dinner, to clear it out. That way you won’t have to think about it till the morning.
Make the world a better place by making better decisions. Pick something that you’re going to start doing, or that you’re going to stop doing that’s going to help the world. Maybe this is to finally stop smoking, not for yourself, but for our environment. You might make the conscious decision to stop using plastic bags or straws by bringing reusable alternatives with you to cut down on waste. Or it could be something as simple as donating your time to a charity of your choice. Either way, by doing something for others or the world will ensure you stick with your plan and will in return leave you feeling happier.
Get your self-care routine started. We all know the importance of self-love but focusing on ourselves only a few times a year isn’t enough. Although this may sound unachievable, especially if you’re a full-time mom, an entrepreneur, a student, a career seeker, but setting aside some alone time (at least a few times a week) is crucial to your overall happiness. If you’ve fallen out of your workout routine, started to eat really unhealthy, staying up way too late, or giving into too many temptations, now’s the time to get back on track. Now’s the time to book that first yoga session, start those meal preps, hopping into a warm relaxing bath for a good night’s sleep or cutting back treats. Set aside some time each day to do the things you love and the activities you feel the happiest doing.
What I Wore- Tee- c/o SL Designs, Tutu- c/o Chavah Designs, Purse- c/o Poppy & Peonies, Shoes- Aldo
