Beautiful practices to make 2020 even better
New Year’s resolutions so often include goals for making changes we think we should make, but rarely take the time to think about what will make our lives richer, happier, a little more beautiful, a little more meaningful, a little more enjoyed, a little more lived. Too often we focus on the results we want such as “I want to make money”, or “I want to lose weight” without focusing on the actions themselves that will take us along our journey. Is there something that has been missing from your life? Do you want to read more, spend more quality time with your children, wake up earlier, start the day with meditation, feel more present, get out of the office earlier, have more mindful meals?
I thought about what might fill my life up or my heart up just a little bit more, and I’d like to read more. Sure I read fairly regularly, but I also spend a lot of wasted time online. I’d like to dedicate more time to reading, and less time spent online. I feel better about how I’m spending my time when I know I’ve read or learned something new that day. Ideally, I’d like to read 3 books/month, but I’d settle for reading a bit each day.
Below are a few simple ideas regarding changes/experiences that might make your life a little more beautiful:
Read more books
Wake up earlier
Daily meditation practice
Daily walks (perhaps with the time saved from waking up earlier)
Actually taking your 10-minute breaks at work
Watching 1 sunset/week
Taking your child out for a special date 1x/week (could be donuts, hot chocolate, libraries, etc.)
Taking walks with your spouse
Keeping fresh flowers in your home at all times
Cooking a new recipe 1x/month
Trying a new restaurant 1x/month
Scheduling lazy days
Getting out in nature 1x/week
Reading something inspiring every morning
Actually schedule/use your vacation time
Weekend pancakes
Keeping a clean home
Getting together with friends
Take bubble baths
Last year I wrote about letting go, and about how what you need to let go of is just as important as what you want to gain. Letting go of what doesn’t serve you makes room for adding in the experiences or activities that make life feel well-lived. Once you’ve identified what you want to let go of and begun to unburden yourself, there’s space for so much more good to come into your life. For example, less time spent online means more time for reading, or making pancakes, or taking walks with my family. It’s my hope that all of us are able to both let go, and gain this year in 2020. Happy New Year!