As a new year begins, many people all around the world are continuing to think about the things they can change throughout the next twelve months and beyond. However, the truth is, as well as the fact that people typically give up on their new year’s resolutions within the first four weeks of the year, the pandemic has put a halt to many people’s goals as venues, gyms, schools, shops, etc. close all over the world.
So if you’re feeling the new year blues already and you want to find ways to be more, take the pressure off yourself. 2021 is the year to get lean- and that doesn’t mean another failed new year’s diet. It means concentrating the things in your world around you to make room for better things in your life to make it all the more manageable.
Here are some ideas of how you can get lean in 2021- without having to eat your greens or go for a run.
Reduce Your Spending
The pandemic means that many of us are spending a lot of time at home which means we can often get bored. With online and app shopping making it easier than ever to have a package at your door within days or even hours, we may get our temporary fix of retail therapy, but the dollars soon add up over time.
With online shopping it’s less easy to keep a track of how much money we have on our cards, and if it gets to a point where you’re worried about not having enough money to cover bills and your rent/mortgage, then that’s when it becomes an issue.
Practice mindful spending. Don’t save your card details on your computer so you have to find your card each time you go to make a purchase instead of going on autopilot. Have your online banking set up an ‘approve transaction’ notification if it has that feature- it helps you to keep a track on your spending.
Create a budget- especially if you’re on a reduced income due job losses and furloughs. Make sure to budget for incidentals and towards your savings.
Be More Energy Efficient
Another way we can get leaner in 2021 is with how we spend our energy. Many businesses all over the world are doing their bit for the environment. Whether that’s with paperless transactions, or how they run their machinery. For example, C&B Equipment is a trusted rotary vane compressor supplier, which helps all sorts of businesses in multiple industries who use rotary vane compressors ro decrease their emissions while improving productivity.
However, there are easy ways to keep an eye on your carbon footprint in the home, too. Time your showers to save on hot water, switch off lights when you leave a room. Cook in bulk so you don’t have to turn on the oven every day- are just some small ways in which you can improve your energy efficiency in 2021. These small gestures will soon add up over time.
Declutter
Being at home more can make it easier to feel as though the walls are closing in- especially if you’ve let clutter from all of those online purchases build up over time. Now is as good a time as any to get the trash bags out and begin to declutter your home so you no longer feel trapped or overwhelmed in your environment and that your home becomes the sanctuary you need it to be.
Anxiety and Stress
Granted, this is much easier said than done, especially during a pandemic. However, anxiety and stress is an area in your life where you should get the help you need to manage better. One of the most important things to do is to put much less pressure on yourself. To focus on the day in front of you. Set yourself manageable daily goals, even if that just looks like making sure you take a shower and brush your teeth one day.
If you feel as though you need additional help in managing your stress and anxiety, there are apps which take you through mindfulness meditations, as well as access to virtual therapists who can help you to navigate the big feelings that the pandemic brings.
Know that you don’t always have to do things or spend every day productively. You don’t have to do yoga at home, or learn how to make sourdough bread. Let yourself be and feel the things you need to do this year in order to survive. That is more than enough.
