New Years Resolutions Wrapped In a Pretty Bow.

Goodbye 2020 hello 2021

Hey girl! This is future you knocking at your mental and explaining how 2021 is going to be your best year yet. I know I know you’re doubting it tremendously but hear me out! Im going to do all the hard work for you and all you have to do is follow the guidelines, cool?

I bet your stomachs in knots and your hearts racing at the amount of change you’re expecting huh? Good, because the first change we need to make is learning how to deal with your mental and emotional health. Every decision, relationship, opportunity, and/or choice you make is wrapped tightly around that. For years we have been stuck in this little closet protected away from having to make hard choices and from dealing with change. Instead of figuring out how to deal with the anxiety and shyness, we’ve hid from ourselves and we’ve hid it from others. Well, i'm here to tell you, no more!

We've already decided that we want to accomplish big things in 2021. Such as, becoming a better writer, releasing more articles on vocal, finishing a book, and meeting new people.

Here, I am going to outline the foundation you need to build in order to accomplish all of your dreams and goals in 2021 because you can do anything as long as you believe in yourself! So, without further ado, here's your list of exercises and activities to build a strong mental and to tackle your 2021 goals.

1.) Don’t run from your anxiety Embrace it

The first step to overcoming anything is to admit that there is a problem. Anxiety has been a problem that we’ve hid from ourselves and from the world, for years. Instead of hiding it or trying to cure it we are going to EMBRACE it. Yes ma'am you read that correctly! That is the first part of our battle. Embrace it, acknowledge that its there, and push through it. I know, I know you're like, what in the world are you sipping on in 2021 that makes you think I can do this. See, that’s our anxiety talking but its okay because now, we are going to talk back! So, when you have thoughts like that you need to tell yourself that its okay and that while we may be anxious for what we are about to do, we are also excited for it as well. Focus on the positive feeling and bring anxiety along so maybe it’ll learn how to be positive as well. I cracked up laughing here too girl.

In all seriousness we need to condition ourselves to understand that we are in control of it, anxiety is not in control of us.

So, as for anxiety, just so you know; It will no longer be the ghost that sneaks in during conversations or pops out when its time for us to sleep. In 2021 we are changing the dynamics and instead of it being the boogeyman that we’ve feared all these years we’re going to grab its hand and become its best friend. Like a child’s comfort blanket, we will carry it with us wherever we go and embrace it when things get hard. No longer will we allow it to have us missing opportunities, running away from relationships, or preventing us from making new friends. We will push forward and brave life like never before.

Overall for the next 12 months we will embrace, love, master, and understand our anxiety. After learning everything and understanding it then we will begin to understand ourselves. At that moment of understanding, just like a child's comfort blanket, we will put anxiety down and it will be forgotten like it never existed. Anxiety will no longer lead our steps or damage opportunities. We will overcome it I promise you! 2021 is that moment of change and we are here for it!

2.) A Lot More Self Love

Girl, we spent 2020 worrying and looking out for everyone else. We have got to fit in some me time! Yes, im aware we have kids and we are doing it all alone but that doesn’t mean we forget about ourselves. So, everyday, yeah I said it, EVERYDAY, schedule in an hour of me time. Even if its taking a hot bath with some calming lavender wafting in the air, curling up with a good book, or whatever else will be relaxing and comforting. Just make sure to do it. Even if that means having to wake up an hour earlier, or later, than the kids. Feeling that anxiety? Remember embrace it, we’ll be ok! This one is the most important of them all because we have to love ourselves in order to be able to function and love everyone else. So go get those bath bombs that have been sitting underneath the cabinet for the last 3 months, turn on some calming music, dim the lights and RELAX!

3.) Yoga and Meditation

Yes mama, yoga and meditation, so go ahead and roll out the mat that we bought 2 years ago and lets give this another try. Not only will it help with our anxiety that we are working on but it will also relive some stress and clear your mind of clutter so that we can relax and comfortably work on some of our goals. Now, don’t try and be cute and use yoga as your self love hour because these two are separate. To start off, 30 minutes of yoga and/or meditation, preferably in the mornings, will prepare you to tackle the rest of your day successfully. Not only will you feel better physically but mentally as well. Even better, the kids can do it also. Yep, I knew you were going to use them as an excuse.

4.) We Have To Read More

A lot of what we want to accomplish has to do with writing. Now, as most people know in order to become a better writer we also have to read. I can go ahead and admit , for us, that reading has slipped away like a feather in the wind. We’ve let so many distractions and just life in general get in the way of the activity we loved most and now its time to get back at it. Yes, you can count this as part of me time. Not only will you become a better writer from this, whether its for your articles on vocal or your new book that you’re working on, but also ease the amount of stress that you feel daily. It stimulates the brain and helps with focusing. Which in turn will what? Exactly! Help with the anxiety. See, we’re embracing it not running!

5.) Hiking

Yes, I am currently dying of laughter because I can just picture your facial expression. Hiking has been on our bucket list for YEARS. We’ve used every excuse in the book to avoid it and now its time to get out those boots and go and walk a trail. The best thing about this goal is that even with covid, this is something that can be done safely and away from others. Start with a small trail and work your way up to the bigger ones. Become one with nature, let your mind roam, and allow yourself to escape from the busyness of life. I promise this will not only help you physically and mentally, but emotionally as well.

6.) WRITE WRITE WRITE

Our number 1 goal for the year is wrapped around writing. Both in fun and to further our career so this year we will need to write more than ever before. How we are going to do that is we are going to schedule it in just like we schedule everything else. So, an hour a day we need to write. No matter what it is or what its about as long as we are writing we are moving towards our goal. We will need to complete at least 1 challenge a month and at minimum 2 articles a week on Vocal. There's no better way to track your success than to post on vocal and see what is loved and what's skipped over.

Lastly, we need to finish that book. Yes the one that’s been sitting on your laptop for over 4 years because you're afraid of what the world will think of it. Release it, if it flops then we can improve next time but i'm sure it will do great. Remember there's no such thing as failure, only lessons learned. 2021 is our year we just have to believe it!

Time For Change

All in all girly, its time for a change. 2020 showed us what life would be like if we continued on the path of letting anxiety rule our lives and allowing it to block opportunities. It allowed us to see that there are so many different ways we can go about accomplishing things and living life and the only way that matters is the one we choose for ourselves. Not what the world thinks or what we think will be most accepted but what we want. 2020 slowed everything down to show us all the opportunities that we missed while trying to keep up with everyone else and live life in the box that they themselves designed. Welp, i'm here to say NO MORE! We are stepping out of that box and breaking the chains that are stopping us from moving forward.

Post your vision board in your office and make sure to sit in their everyday when you write as a constant reminder of what you’re moving towards. You know those Netflix shows you love to binge watch? Well, make it so that the only way you can watch it is if you complete everything on your schedule for the day as mentioned above. Bet that got your attention! Accountability and remembering what you’re moving toward is the key. I'm telling you boo, 2021 is the year because, just like you, everyone else will be stepping back into a new world all at the same time. Yes, it'll be awkward and scary at first but you wont be the only one with those feelings. Embrace it and march on!

To 2021!

With love,

From Me!