How are you planning on ringing in the new year? I never really celebrate new years and new year’s resolutions, but this year I am so ready to say goodbye to 2020 and welcome 2021 in her all her glory!
2020 has taught me so much about myself and made me so much stronger. I really want to start 2021 on a great foot; set some goals, manifest, and set new year’s resolutions.
So, maybe you plan on ringing in the new year with a goal to eat healthier, exercise more, quit smoking, stress less. Maybe these resolutions are the same ones you make every year, but don’t stick to.
So how can you ensure that you make these resolutions stick past Valentine’s Day?
Creating new habits takes time & energy. A habit is formed only after 21 days of doing it continuously.
Here are some tips to create long lasting change with 6 easy steps:
- Get ready for change. Do not just go headfirst into it. Your resolutions will always be focused in areas where you lack progress. I suggest starting to mentally prepare for it.
- Understand why you want to make the change and hype yourself up for it. Even if you need to stick up motivational quotes or posters of encouragement or set daily affirmation reminders on your phone. It will only help you get to the next step.
- Do not set yourself up for disaster. Set small goals to ultimately get to the big goal. Celebrate small victories. There’s going to be moments when you fall off the wagon and that is ok, if you get back on quickly.
- Keep your resolution list short and sweet. The last thing you want is to have too many resolutions and then you lose focus because you have spread yourself too thin.
- Make your resolutions known. If your family, friends or partner know about your resolutions; then they will also remind you of them which makes it harder for you to forget or ignore them. Maybe some of them may even share a resolution with you which means you can also keep each other motivated to keep on going.
- Reward yourself along the way. If you reach a certain point on your way to your goal then reward yourself with a pair of shoes you have been eyeing or a book you have been wanting to buy. This will only motivate you to keep on keeping on until you reach that goal. You have got this!!!!
Preparing for back to school/work
Preparing for back to school/work means settling into a familiar routine again which is completely the opposite of what has been happening in your household during the December holidays. Therefore, I like to start forming a routine right after new years to help the kids and myself get back on track. Next year, going back to school/work will be slightly different as we will still be living in Covid times. It is important to reiterate this to kids who tend to forget and need constant reminders.
It is also important to ease anxiety about the upcoming year – new classmates, new teachers, new classroom, and new schoolwork. It can become very overwhelming especially for little kids. All transitions take a while to get used to so it is important to set expectations and let the kids know it may take a month or two to get used to all the newness.
Here are some easy ways:
- I always like to start with the school shopping early so we are not left running around at the last minute. I like to take the kids along so they can pick out what they want which makes them excited about going back to school.
- Stock up on school supplies. If your kids are anything like mine, chances are they will be coming home with less and less stationery as the days go by.
- Create a planner; especially if you have more than one child. This will help you stay on track with various school activities, uniforms, and homework for each child.
- Create a message centre. I have a family WhatsApp group, so all school information is shared on there. That way if I forget something, my partner won’t. It also creates a sense of responsibility in the older kids; making them accountable for their own schedule.
- Create a school bag station, coat station and now a mask station too. This should be at the entrance of the house so everything can be grabbed on the way out without delay.
- Prepare for the hectic school mornings the night before. I like to leave their uniform out, decide what is for lunch, sign all homework and pack all school bags the night before to help ease hectic mornings. Also make sure sanitizer is topped up and in the bags.
- Lastly, go over all “covid rules” so it is always at the back of their mind.
Goodluck to all the kids for 2021 especially the grade 1’s & grade 8 kids who will be embarking on a whole new chapter in their schooling career.
All the best to the parents who make this possible and who work tirelessly behind the scenes.
May 2021 bring us growth, health, and prosperity!
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