Self-care and simplicity in the new year
Happy New Year everyone! We finally made it out of 2020 and into a new year with new possibilities.
In 2020, we learned that change can happen quickly and drastically. We have changed our routines, our workflows and completely reimagined our way of life. We have lost friends and loved ones, lost jobs and financial security, as well as our sense of normalcy.
While 2020 has been difficult for all of us, I have been in awe of our resiliency, our selflessness and our gratitude for others. Moreover, while the events of the past year have attempted to divide us, the human capacity for kindness and love has not been lost. I see daily examples of this all around me.
This time of year I am normally thinking of developing the dreaded “New Year’s Resolutions” that I NEVER stick to. Every year I tell myself “don’t bother,” but I get stuck in the trap of making unrealistic resolutions that have me feeling defeated two months into the new year.
If I’ve learned anything this past year, it’s to be extra grateful for all that I have in my life. There are plenty of things that have been made clearer over the past year, as I have been forced to slow down and simplify. Maybe this is the case for you too.
This year, let us make simple and positive goals for the new year that focus on promoting your healthiest self. Here are a few ideas from MyDomaine.com:
- Learn ways of managing stress: Trying yoga or meditation may be helpful. You can also contact Methodist EAP to schedule a session to learn healthy ways of managing stress.
- Nurture Friendships: True friendships are about quality, not quantity.
- Give back to your community: Volunteering and practicing random acts of kindness are ways to empower us and lead to new experiences.
- Prioritize Your Health: Have you neglected your annual medical and dental exams? Now is a great time to schedule those appointments and make your health a top priority.
- Monitor you Social Media Use: Scaling back your use of social media can be beneficial, especially if you start comparing yourself to somebody else’s “online life”.
- Stay Present: Resolve to slow down and be more “in the moment”.
- Practice Gratitude: Write down a few things you are grateful for and why each day.
- Love Yourself Unconditionally: Accept yourself for exactly who you are.
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SUBSCRIBE NOWIn addition to those tips, here's a quote to keep in mind:
“Gratitude helps us to see what is there instead of what isn’t. — Annette Bridges
If you need assistance in learning ways to be your best self, please contact Methodist Healthcare Employee Assistance Program at 901-683-5658 to schedule a free confidential appointment. All sessions are being conducted via telehealth due to the pandemic.
Allison White, LCSW
Living Well Network Supervisor
Allison received her bachelor’s degree in social work from Mississippi State University and her master’s degree in social work from Jackson State University. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over fifteen years of experience working with children and adults in a variety of settings including community mental health, school-based counseling, adult and juvenile justice, and therapeutic foster care. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, baking, and crafting.