Easing Myself into 2021

Because what is time anymore, anyways?

Read this on Substack.

Did anyone else wake up on January 1 and realize that nothing was different? Or is it just me?

In a normal year, I’m not one for resolutions. I never keep them, so I gave them up years ago.

But, of cours, last year was not normal. And most of this year probably won’t be normal either.

The “New Year” is always filled with challenges to do more and be more. Normally, I would be guilted into trying to do all of the things as soon as the new year hits. It always seems like more is possible, but of course, it never really is.

I don’t know what is different about this new year for me personally, but I’m really letting myself ease into 2021.

I’m letting myself enjoy a sweet every night with my tea, instead of going on a post-holiday ‘detox’.

I’m letting myself enjoy slower, more gentle forms of movement like yin yoga, instead of enrolling in a New Year bootcamp.

I’m letting myself get really into HGTV during Ontario’s second lockdown and state of emergency instead of ramping up my side hustle at night.

I can’t really explain it but I normally have this little voice in the back of my mind making me feel guilty for failing to do all of the things we ‘should’ do in a New Year. But that voice hasn’t been around for a visit so far this year. And, to be honest, I don’t miss it.

With everything that happened in 2020, and with the first two weeks of 2021 feeling like an eternity, it feels right to listen to my body and do exactly what I want to do (as opposed to what I think should be doing).

It’s not an easy task to actually listen to ourselves and tune into what we need in the day-to-day. There is so much conspiring against us in that department - namely everything that tells us we need to do and be more. To start the New Year off right. To make 2021 ‘your year’. New year - new you, right?

Do me a favour - ignore as much of this as you can. Just waking up every day is a true feat of will and determination.

I’m not saying that you should abandon your goals and throw caution to the wind. I just don’t think right now is the time to punish yourself or try to create new routines just because you think you have to.

I’m not in the business of telling you or anybody what you should be doing right now. So I’ll just tell you how I know I should be spending my time.

Now is the time for me to derive pleasure from the small things. To savour my nightly sweet treat. To luxuriate in moving my body in an intentional way, even if it’s only 20 minutes at a time. To delight in reading as many fantasy books as I can. To relief that there’s not much else I can do right now, so I might as well do what makes me feel safe and happy.

Until nex time, keep living that tiny life.

How are you approaching the new year?

Image Credit: Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash