5 Gentle + Kind New Year Reminders

Hi, everyone! 💗 I hope you’re enjoying your day….also, Merry Christmas Eve! Even though New Year’s Day isn’t until next week (as I’m writing this post), the end of the year is always a time of reflection. Thinking about the future is important, but your mental health and well-being should always come first. With that being said, make sure to keep these gentle New Year reminders in mind!

Sometimes, January 1st can be an intimidating date. We often think, what’s going to happen next year? Will I be happy? Successful? In love? Will I accomplish my goals?

Personally, I’ve been thinking a lot about my goals when it comes to blogging next year. As a kid, I always wanted to be a writer, and finally pursued my dreams this year. Since starting my blog, I’ve grown as a person by sharing my thoughts and also reading other bloggers’ posts. In 2019, I’d love to grow my blog further, gain confidence as a person and writer, and follow my heart more often.

Those are some important New Year reminders and goals I’d like to focus on most this year. Hopefully they inspire you as well!

5 Gentle New Year Reminders

1. Everyone’s life story is unique. Take things at your own pace!

In the age of social media, it’s pretty tempting to compare ourselves to what we see on Instagram or Facebook. Unfortunately, this habit can have some unhealthy side effects. According to Business Insider, a study published by the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology suggests that there is “a link between social media use and depression.”

Almost on a daily, we’re reading about our Facebook friends’ newest updates. We’re scrolling through pretty Instagram feeds of fancy trips, designer bags, and yummy food. It can be overwhelming sometimes, especially if you’re struggling at the moment or feeling unhappy.

At the end of the day, every person’s journey looks different, and each of our life stories are unique. We all experience success, happiness, love, etc. in our own way.

And while you’re taking that beautiful Instagram photo, don’t forget to giggle at those little quirks of life. Maybe it’s your partner photobombing your picture, or your bff capturing you mid-sneeze.

2. Make sure you’re scheduling enough time for self care.

According to an article from LifeHacker, practicing self care is important for both your physical and mental health. Some of the benefits include reduced stress levels and burnout prevention.

When you’re swamped at work or have a final coming up, it can be challenging to make time for yourself. While you’re writing that email for your boss or working on that Victorian Lit paper though, make sure you’re taking breaks here and there. Also, consider scheduling a mental health day if possible so that you can unwind and recharge.

Helpful self care resources:

• 21 Life Changing Self Care Products You Never Knew You Needed
• TED Talks Playlist: The Importance of Self Care
• Seven Types of Self-Care Activities for Coping with Stress

A few of my top self care posts:

• 23 Calming Hobbies to Restore Your Energy
• How to Make a Self Care Kit + 20 Items to Include
• 100 Self-Care Ideas for Your Mind, Body, and Soul

3. Although it can be scary sometimes, begin to embrace changes and new opportunities as they come.

Adjusting to changes in life is really hard sometimes. Maybe you’re starting a new job or moving to a different town soon. Growing up, my grandma always reminded me that when one door closes, another door opens.

This point hits pretty close to home for me. When I graduated college, I struggled with adjusting to change. All my friends moved back home during the summer, and it wasn’t easy finding a job back in Chicago. I felt pretty alone and lost. My anxiety got so bad, I wouldn’t leave the house for days at a time.

Eventually things got better. They always do. I found an apartment, got a job that I’ve been working at for a while now, met some amazing friends and coworkers, learned to cook, started driving again, travelled, went to the movie theatre with Alejandro who knows how many times, started my blog, and made a promise to myself that I’d pursue my childhood dream of being a writer.

Trust me, no matter what the next year throws at you — just know you got this!

4. Always remain kind to yourself when setting New Year’s resolutions.

It’s great to set resolutions for yourself throughout the year. However, New Year’s Resolutions start becoming toxic if you’re putting yourself down in the process or setting extreme expectations.

Create a list of some resolutions that make you feel good. A few examples may include traveling to new places, learning to cook, or hanging out with your loved ones more.

Don’t feel discouraged if you end up breaking the resolution, keep going anyway! It’s a long-term process and there are bound to be some ups and downs. Think of your resolutions more as gentle New Year reminders and goals.

According to HealthyPsych: In order to keep your resolutions, try taking small steps and building your goals into your daily routine.

Personally, one of my goals this year was to read one new book a month. At around February, I started feeling overwhelmed with my schedule. I eventually decided to slow things down and that helped a lot. This year, I’ve read so many new favorites like Ghost Road by Charis Cotter and Becoming by Michelle Obama.

5. Keep in mind that it’s never too late to start a goal or project you’ve been dreaming about.

When I was in 8th grade, my favorite English teacher told us a story. Growing up, the people in his life encouraged him to be a lawyer. That included his parents, family, friends, and colleagues. In his heart, he knew it wasn’t the right path for him, but he went to law school anyway. He passed his bar exam and practiced law for years.

One day, he decided that he was going to quit law and become a teacher. He wanted to help kids, but everyone around him discouraged him. They said he’d take a big pay cut and that he wouldn’t be happy with the new change in lifestyle.

He let us know that becoming a teacher was the best decision of his life, and that he finally wakes up every morning feeling fulfilled.

His words have never left me, and he helped me realize my love for writing. It’s never too late to dream or start again, Carpe Diem.

I hope that you enjoyed this post of New Year reminders. Have a wonderful rest of your day!

What are some of your goals or resolutions for next year? Also, what did you think of my New Year reminders?