Live Your Best Life With These 16 Resolutions for 2021

Looking to the year ahead, it seems it would have to be better than this year has been with or without resolutions, right? Yet, most of us know that if we don’t set our sails in a direction, we’re likely to be pulled by the waves.

2021 is the year we take matters into our own hands and live our best life yet. So, what’s living your best life?

Universally, if you asked anyone what they viewed as necessary to live their best life, you’d probably get some or all of the following answers: great health, good food, steady income, and close relationships with friends and family. But these things don’t just come to us naturally. 

When it comes to good health, for instance, you need to put in the work. As Dr. Mehmet Oz says, “You need to be proactive, carve out time in your schedule, and take responsibility for being the healthiest person you can be—no one else is going to do it.”

So, with those categories in mind, let’s look at 16 surefire ways you can set yourself up to have the best year of your life (or at least be well on your way to your best) in 2021.

Resolve to Have Great Health

First, start with the basics.

1. Curb your “vices.” If you’ve been smoking for years, this should be the year that you give it up. If you need convincing, think about this: Cigarette smoking causes 480,000 deaths a year. If you’ve picked up vaping as a habit to cut down on your cigarettes, don’t fool yourself. Vaping also has been linked to serious lung damage. And finally, you might want to take an honest look at your alcohol consumption. No one says you have to be a teetotaler. However, excessive alcohol consumption could be keeping you from experiencing your best possible life.

2. Change your mindset. Another great way to change your lifestyle is to change your mindset. This could take the form of keeping a journal to list all the things you’re thankful for in your life. Or just spend a few moments each day in quiet reflection to express gratitude for the good things in your life. After a year of so much negativity, 2021 can be a more positive time in your life. This might also be a good time to work with a therapist or trusted clergyperson to develop some positive mindset habits.

3. Destress your life. To say 2020 was stressful is the understatement of the decade. The good news? There are a lot of different ways to destress. Yoga and meditation are great ways to center yourself and reduce your stress. You might want to consider visiting a naturopathic doctor about herbs and supplements that can support your health through these stressful times. And check out some great ways to stay calm and centered during COVID-19.

4. Improve your sleep hygiene. One of the best ways to improve your overall health is to improve your sleep cycle. This can be achieved if you do a few things. First, be consistent. Go to bed at a regular time each night so you can train your body to be ready for sleep. Also, remove distractions from your bedroom such as laptops, tablets and TVs. This should be a place to sleep—that’s it. Finally, stop using electronic devices (including your phone) at least half an hour before sleep. (And if your divorce is keeping you up at night, try these proven tips to get your Zzzzzs.)

Make time to connect with the all-important people in your life.

5. Start at the top. At the head of your list should be your family and your children. If you’re divorced or separated, this is especially important as you need to be there to offer stability for your kids. If you can’t connect with these loved ones face-to-face because of pandemic restrictions, set up a regular Zoom or Skype, Facebook Live,or Google Meet session to stay in touch.

6. Don’t leave friends out. Make sure you stay in touch with friends you know will bring laughter or will be a great listener. These are the people you want to keep in your life. Reach out for a call or video catch-up session. If you have toxic people who do nothing but bring you down, this may be the time to decide if you want to continue to have them in your life.

Get moving.

7. Stress and pandemics don’t mixwell. If you’ve been sitting at your computer a lot, now’s the time to add movement to your daily routine. Even if it’s just walking around the block or doing an online workout or stretch session, moving your body can build your stamina to add more and more to your regimen

8. Don’t think of it as exercise. Instead, use a pedometer (you probably have a free app on your phone) to know what your daily average is now. Set a goal to increase 5% to 10% doing an activity you like such as walking the dog, going to the park, taking dance lessons, or anything you can do that will promote more steps in your day. Continually adding to your daily steps has been shown to help with anxiety and depression as well as overall health.

Resolve to Eat Great Food

9. Diet doesn’t have to be a four-letter word. We aren’t talking about a whole diet plan here. Instead, look at the foods you’re eating. If you’re a stress eater, you may be tempted to eat foods that don’t support your body in the way you’d like. Many find keeping a food diary for a month would be an eye-opening experience for you. It allows you to not only see what you’re eating throughout the day, but you realize how much in calories, fat, and sugar you’re taking in (or not). Simple changes can reap big benefits. You can also talk with a nutritionist or your doctor if you’d like to make some bigger dietary changes.

10. Practice intuitive eating. Intuitive (or mindful) eating is something we often avoid because we feel like we don’t have time to eat. Slow down and stop eating while you multitask. Appreciate every bite of your food and learn how to listen to your body. Only eat when you’re actually hungry, not just when you’re stressed out or think that you’re hungry. And when you’re full, try to stop eating. 

11. Add healthy, weight loss contributing foods to your diet. This doesn’t mean that you have to eat cabbage soup, kale, and apple cider vinegar all day to eat healthy and lose weight through diet. Be aware of what you’re eating and add more healthy proteins, organic greens, and fresh vegetables. 

12. Eat foods that satiate your hunger. Some foods can be a quick snack that’ll provide more energy and nutrients than processed foods. For these healthier snack alternatives, check out this list of 20 foods you can choose to add to your diet to keep you satiated. 

Resolve to Build a Steady Income

13. Look beyond the single paycheck. Assuming you have a job that affords you a steady income, let’s look at ways you can diversify your income streams and become less dependent on one paycheck in case something happens. You’ll feel more in control and less stress knowing your income isn’t dependent on one source. This is also important if you’ve recently divorced or will be going through a split in the near future.

14. Up your basic income. Whether you’re feeling a budget crunch or you’re getting a divorce and haven’t been working in a while, you need to increase your income and this can be a good time to do just that. Consider talking to a career counselor. The investment can pay off in determining a better suited and higher paying job for you. Also, take advantage of free online certifications that could increase your salary.

15. Consider a side hustle. Many people these days have what they affectionately call their “side hustle.” This is a job that’s in addition to the regular 9-5 job they have. If you like animals, you could walk dogs or pet sit. If you like mowing lawns, you could do this for people in your neighborhood. You can take anything you like doing and turn it into an additional income stream. Brainstorm some ways you can make some extra cash.

16. Get gig work. A lot of people have found being an Uber/ Lyft driver or DoorDash deliverer really helps out and is a great way to make extra cash when you have the time. Some have Uber’d passengers on their way home from work so it really isn’t any extra time or out of their way. Others take a friend with them while delivering dinners and enjoy catching up while getting some side cash. If you track your mileage, you can save money at the end of the year on your income taxes. 

This year, you don’t have to let the pandemic keep you feeling trapped and lonely at home. There are so many ways to connect with others even when you can’t go out. Set goals for yourself in the new year on how you can rededicate your life to do things that you truly love that will make your life so much better.

Contact the Compassionate Family Law Attorneys at Smedley Law Group in Woodbury, NJ Today

If you’re thinking about filing for divorce, you’ll also most likely be dealing with another matter like child custody, child support, or division of assets, so you’ll need to speak with a qualified attorney. The New Jersey family law attorneys at Smedley Law Group represent clients throughout the state, including West Deptford, Woodbury Heights, Runnemede, and Westville. We understand how challenging this time can be for you, which is why we will fight hard to protect your interests, and the interests of your loved ones, throughout the legal process. Call us at (856) 251-0800 or fill out our confidential contact form to schedule a consultation. We have an office conveniently located at 750 Cooper Street, Woodbury, NJ 08096.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.