(If you want to!)

It is a fact that a lot of us ended up putting our self-improvement goals on hold during 2020, as the Coronavirus pandemic and a string of lockdowns meant that we were mostly focused on getting by, instead of taking big steps forward. However, with the past year firmly in our rear-view mirrors, it’s time to get back in the driving seat and think about how you can reach those goals in 2021. Here are a few simple steps to help you get started – even if the year does look pretty bleak at the moment. 

1. Want To Get Fit? Make Sure You Have A Plan

If you’re thinking about all the treat food you enjoyed over the Christmas period then rest assured: you are not alone and it’s totally fine to have eaten it all. We all needed to indulge over the festive season, but launching blindly into a random “get fit quick” scheme is not going to help anyone. You’ll hate it and then you’ll fail.

There are some very easy things that you can start doing to get in shape for the new year, from cutting down on sugary snacks and alcohol to making sure you’re getting regular exercise every day, but the most important thing is to make sure that you have clearly defined, achievable targets. Diets and exercise routines fail when they are too ambitious. Remember to find a rhythm that works for you that you can stick to, and the results will come.

2. Want To Change Your Career? Do Your Research

The past year has been rough for some people when it comes to employment. Many people have been put on furlough or worse, and for people who had been planning to make a career change, last year felt like the wrong time. However, there’s only so long you can keep battling on if you’re not happy in your work.

So, don’t just rage-quit and spend long days trawling job sites. Think about what it is in your current role that you do find rewarding, and what it is that you would like to do if given the chance. Do that research into the opportunities available, and talk to an expert about how you can make that dream job a reality. For anyone looking to retrain or start a new career, Refreshing A Career has resources and tips that can help you get where you want to go.

3. Make Your Mental Health A Priority

So many new year’s resolutions are about starting new things, but this year (more than any, arguably) it is going to be so important for you to start paying attention to how kind you are to yourself. We have all seen the statistics about how the pandemic has affected the nation’s mental health, and it is very easy to dismiss this as a problem that other people have, or something that you don’t have time to deal with. If you feel like you are suffering, don’t sweep it under the rug. Consider talking to your GP or a private counsellor to see if there’s a treatment that is the right fit for you.