It feels like every headline these days adds another layer to the unease already humming in the background, and as the new year begins, it’s hard not to feel that weight pressing in.
The world feels unpredictable, and somehow, the clock ticking into January only amplifies it.
The stress of a new year can make even the everyday things feel heavier.
Work feels harder to focus on, showing up for the people we love takes more energy than it used to, and finding space for ourselves sometimes feels almost impossible.
As the new year begins and everything feels a little uncertain, here are three ways to help steady yourself and care for your well-being.
- Take care of yourself: This means prioritizing exercise, nutritious food, and restful sleep to help you power through your day. Determine what good hygiene looks like for you and build these essentials into your calendar so you can stick to a schedule that keeps you better rested and ready to take on whatever the day is about to throw at you.
- Practice good digital hygiene: It’s hard to fully take care of yourself without considering your relationship with the news and social media. Consider turning off disruptive cell phone notifications, creating a time limit for doom scrolling, and getting outside, as Gen Z likes to say, to “touch some grass.” Trust me. Being less informed – in real-time – can be a beautiful thing.
- Cultivate community: Know someone going through a hard time? Research shows that giving to others not only helps somebody in a time of need but can also ward off our depression and anxiety. Whether it’s a simple phone call to a friend or mowing the neighbor’s lawn, see if you can commit to reaching out to two people this week.
Lastly, find ways to feel grateful. At the end of each day, I make a list in my head – of what went right, what made me laugh. That practice and the Take Two Journal help me drift off a little easier each night. Let me know what works for you!
Until next time,
