Now that last year is a mere memory and we’ve almost made it through January *claps frantically* – it’s time to get prepped for 2021, shift your mindset and make it the best year ever! Setting goals and resolutions are great but can become a little hard to maintain at times. Making simple decisions to control how we interact with the world around us can have a positive effect on our wellbeing.
Why not try out these 10 simple steps and make smashing those goals a lot easier!
1. Smile more
Sounds easy, right? Smiling is proven to elevate our mood, so why not use this simple tool and stress less!
Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There’s a good chance your mood will change for the better. Smiling can trick the body into helping you elevate your mood because the physical act of smiling actually activates neural messaging in your brain.
The sciency bit: A simple smile can trigger the release of neural communication boosting neuropeptides as well as mood-boosting neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. Think of smiling like a natural anti-depressant.
2. Own less
A shoebox full of memories or a pile of old revision books? Now that we’re spending more time within our homes, there is no better time to de clutter and get rid of those once loved items that no longer serve purpose to our lives.
A deep clean can in turn help clear your mind! Make room for those amazing ideas you’ll be coming up with this year by sorting through your stuff and having a big old clear out. Check in with a local charity and ask if they are collecting donations.
Once your bedroom floor is visible again, it’s time to freshen up your space. Redecorating doesn’t need to channel an episode of Grand Designs, a few tweaks and thrifty items can make all the difference to your uni pad! We’ve strung together a few tips to get you started.
3. 2021 hack = Gratitude
Mantra for the year: Appreciate more.
Being grateful allows us to appreciate what we do have rather than focusing heavily on the wants and needs in our lives. Putting out positive vibes into the world will attract (you guessed it) more positivity, happiness and gratitude! If you’re feeling caught up when juggling life, just remember that you have the power to ground yourself and fill your mind with gratitude – after all, you are an amazing human being!
Keeping a gratitude journal is a great way to create those healthy habits.
4. Connect & Communicate
We don’t need to relive the events of 2020 to understand how important staying connected is. With the ability to connect with others in person limited, we’ve turned to online channels to stay in touch.
If you’re all zoomed out, why not try sending a pre recorded video to a loved one, you could even remind them of a favourite memory and get creative with the storytelling. Writing letters does not have to be a thing of the past either. If you find old pictures or memorabilia when de cluttering, whack them in an envelope and get posting!
5. Share the love
Love your partner, pets, family, friends and most importantly – yourself.
Imagine a world full of love, now start creating it! Love is free and unlimited, so it’s a win win when practicing this step in 2021. Uni can be stressful at the best of times and with things looking a little different this year, it’s super important to look after your mental wellbeing.
Making small changes to your daily routine and habits can have massive positive effects over time. Do you, be you and look after you.
2021, let’s have it!
Reflecting on the past month can help highlight those areas in your life which may need a little extra attention. You don’t have to have it all figured out, just knowing that you have the power to adjust the dials of your life is a great place to start.
Now that you are equipped with all that you need to shift your mindset, it’s time to go and claim 2021 as your year! Ready, set, GLOW!
