New year, new you? Three habits you and your family should leave behind in 2021

Posted on January 21, 2021 | Hot Topics

It’s a safe bet that most of us are approaching 2021 with a bit more apprehension than we did 2020. If 2020 hasn’t taught us anything else, we have learned that some -scratch that- most things are out of our control. Many aspects of our daily life are still up in the air, and this is unsettling! So what is actually within our control?

Whether it’s 2020 or 2021, we still have control over the habits we start and stop. After the year we’ve had, we suggest leaving the following three bad habits behind:

1. Stop waiting to change the fill in the blank

Maybe your refrigerator has been reminding you to change the filter for the last three months. Or maybe it’s the reminder you set up in your phone that you keep snoozing each time it rings. Maybe it’s something really serious. Whatever it is that needs changing, but keeps getting put on the back burner – do it.

We recommend starting small. Often our overwhelmed feelings can be put at ease when we tackle even the smallest of details. So, determine those things that need to change, even if it is just the cat litter, and get going. 

2. Stop letting that thing stress you out

Ok, that’s easier said than done, but if we’re being really honest with ourselves, 2020 has helped put some things into perspective for us. Take a little step back, evaluate your circumstances, and really think about the cost of letting that thing stress you out. As parents, we’re often faced with these types of conversations with our kids, especially our school-aged kids. Let’s take our own advice. 

Are the daily tasks daunting? Ask yourself, if you could get rid of one daily task, what would it be? Then maybe you do just that. Maybe you get a meal delivered once a week for the family, so you don’t have to rush home to cook. Whatever it is that consistently stresses you out, find a way to leave that behind in 2020.

3. Stop making resolutions

Maybe that seems ironic, but think about it: when was the last time you stuck to a resolution and saw it through? Did it last a month, two months? Instead of setting a lofty resolution, and being discouraged with yourself part way through, make small goals for yourself. If you meet those goals, and it’s only February, well, set new ones. There’s no formal law that says you have to set a year-long goal. Often, our shorter goals snowball into long-term goals, because we have the advantage of seeing the success and it motivates. 

Let’s all commit to setting our bar at an appropriate place this coming year- not too high, not too low. Let’s commit to making both small changes and big changes, but setting realistic goals to get there. Lastly, let’s commit to living with less stress and not let the little things weigh us down.