It’s officially here everyone...the end of the year. No matter what your individual circumstances were this year, it’s safe to say 2020 probably didn’t turn out like you had imagined. This has been a very long and difficult year for so many people and it’s natural to be feeling a bit of anxiety as we head into next year.
Here are 3 things to keep in mind as we all head into this next unknown year together:
- Remember to Manage Your Expectations - Many individuals have been counting down the minutes until 2020 is over and 2021 will begin. However, just because the date is changing that doesn’t mean all of the problems you’ve faced in 2020 will disappear immediately. Manage both your positive and negative expectations. Chances are, this year won’t be as terrible as you’re imagining and it may not be quite as wonderful as you’re hoping either.
- Don’t be Afraid to be Positive - I’d argue that most of you probably didn’t predict all of this year’s events when you were daydreaming about what all 2020 could bring last year. But, just because it hasn’t turned out as you had planned, don’t let this year’s events discourage you from hoping for the best in 2021! Don’t be afraid to be positive and dream big for this next year!
- Embrace New Years Resolutions - As silly as they may seem, New Years resolutions really can work and they can be a great way to focus on starting out the year by building healthy habits that will last all the way through to 2022! There are a few tips and tricks I’ve written about before that can help you stick with your resolutions long enough to start really seeing their benefits, you can check them out here!
It’s completely natural to feel anxious during such a huge time of transition such as this and it’s even more understandable given this year’s unique circumstances. If you find yourself feeling stressed or overwhelmed about this upcoming year and need to talk to someone about it, please email me at leemiller.therapist@gmail.com or call my office at (310) 614-0323. I would love to connect with you and help you see 2021 for what it can be - full of hope, excitement, and possibilities.
