New Year, New Me (2021 & Plans)


     There’s no doubt that we’ve all gone through a lot this past year. A global crisis literally took over our lives at the beginning of 2020, confining us to our homes almost the entire year. This is something we couldn’t have imagined, even in our wildest dreams. In hindsight, it has also taught us a lot of important lessons of being mindful, living in the moment, and never taking anything for granted. 


On a lighter note Happy new year lovely’s 


If you’re like me that feels shitty every end of a previous year because of thoughts of underachieving goals then you’ve clicked the right link to get here. This year unlike other years I have decided to stick with going with the flow. I haven’t written down any elaborate plans instead I’ve made mental notes to cross off big things when I get it. This was borne in a bid not to jinx the year because if last year was any indication of plans been disposed I better not bother myself and miss out on living vicariously through the things that give me purpose. The fact alone that not meeting certain goals I earmark for every year exposes my vulnerabilities and messes with my self confidence makes it all the more appealing to cross my fingers and pray harder.


     This is a hard pill to swallow for a person like me who is generally obsessed with crossing off to-dos and having everything planned out to the littlest detail but I will embrace this growth and not ‘come and kee myself’ like the average Nigerian will say. So after this short insight into my obviously boring life I’m curious to know if you have plans or had plans for 2021 or you’ll just join the band wagon that is me and myself and say “e go be” ??


I promised that I would not yap about ways to make sure you hit your target for the year or say anything remotely familiar and in the line of motivation. I just figured why should we not settle for things or ways to make 2021 the best year to share and care and be happy. So here’s a few things I think might get us started;




  • No “New year New me”

This has got to be the greatest scam ever because you can only ever get intentional about anything to want to change it. So if you never went to the gym last year and miraculously think writing it in your journal will make you go this year then you’re in for the first fail for 2021. You want to hit the gym? Then go and don’t wait on any go ahead sign(s) from above! just go.


  •  Wake up naturally

Practice the early to bed, early to rise technique and dump that alarm clock. If you insist you must and can’t do without then try a few days a week but please get enough rest.


  • Practice meditation

I’m not a yoga bum, you might be but I have devised my own means to meditate. I even carved out a niche on my bed so everyone knows when I get in that position I’m most probably talking to God. So help me God I have decided to finish reading the Bible this year and I got with the program with this wonderful plan on the YouVersion Bible  I can share this plan if you want to join so hit me if you’d like this. If this doesn’t work for you look up other forms of meditation and find your zen.


  • Don’t miss your breakfast

Easier said than done huh when even I the preacher can’t get a meal in so early in the day. This has been deemed the most important meal of the day so if a million other people can deal then I will this year. I want to be chipper and lighter in the morning and having breakfast might just do the trick.


  • Get into the habit of reading

Read something anything, cross word puzzles even count if you’re oh so very busy. Articles, blogs, books just read. You’re more in tune with what’s going on in the small world after all if you stay informed. 


  • Focus on one task at a time

I am talking to you, yes you. Pace yourself and don’t take on too many things at once. Scientists have proved you even get bored anyways if you do too many things at the same time. Something along the line of loosing interest if I’m correct. Irrespective of the role you play at work the peace you get from completing a task at a time is under emphasized. 


  • Hang with friends and get on a long call with them if you can’t    

This is the perfect solution for loneliness and depression. As a closet hermit this helped a great deal last year. The long phone calls to friends around the world initiated a ritual of always keeping in touch. It’s one thing if I can’t hang with them but this I can do. Hanging out with friends might not require elaborate plans and can be the cure for the unbeknownst 2021. 


  • Spend more on experiences 

Cut back unnecessary spending and be a spendthrift where and when it counts. I for one will go ahead with my plan to start a go fund me for this particular reason. Now more than ever we realize money is a tad hard to come by but when it does come around make sure it’s spent on worthwhile experiences or things. Write that professional exam, travel somewhere new for a change, process applications to land you in a way better spot and come back at the end of the year to look at the seeds you sowed.


  • Be grateful (the gratitude challenge)

It is no news that in the last year, people passed on from debilitating illnesses, hunger, suicide, murder, the pandemic and other morbid conditions. One thing you should be most grateful for is the ability to live on and the hope of a better year. I decided to start the gratitude challenge to expressively write and talk about the best things that have happened to me during the course of the day or week. This will train your mind to find positivity on tough days.


  • Volunteer as much as you can 

I am a firm believer in preaching and practicing love. In 2021, breathe love, care for others, give without expecting back and live in peace with everyone. I volunteer as much as I can in my local church and other work related activities but this year I’m taking it up a notch for the sake of humanity and Christ. 


  • Be realistic 
In getting work or any other thing done, don’t try to achieve unrealistic milestones. The more you set them the more you feel like a failure. In stead of wanting to save more than you can afford monthly, for a start you can save an amount that when put away will cause no distress for the entire month. Apply this to every other thing and live for the moment as much as you can.

  • Get your finances in order
Now comes the money talk! If you feel pressured as much as I can feel about money then you better hear this and stick with it. Don’t spend extravagantly even when you can because like me you’ll beat yourself up about it later when you need said money. Instead fix an almost flexible budget for your spending and save the rest for rainy days. Invest wisely and don’t play smart with money it only tends to boomerang worse. Avoid your debit card as much as you’d the plague if you’re hung up on always spending because it’s near. Be responsible is the bottom line because we can preach this for eternity and do the exact opposite. May we spend wisely this year Amen.

  • Track your progress 
Finally I know we almost agreed that this was not a plan per say but ways to live in the moment this year but it’s alright to track your progress if you want to feel more responsible. If you’d wanted to volunteer more this year, checking up on causes you’ve pushed or assisted is a perfect way to track your progress in that regard. If you started a bible reading plan like me, following up and finishing up on the days you missed is one way to feel more responsible with your meditation. 


       It’s  important you know that even this might seem a lot to you who’s never tried it out. Remember what I said about taking it one after the other huh? Eating breakfast might not stick until July, meditating might be a one off thing but what matters is that you’re intentional and giving it a try poco a poco. For some of us willing to dig in all at once because of how interesting it sounds already breathe in and out and charge through. Focus on these few and other things that keeps you happy and finding purpose and embrace a year full of positivity and hope.



Relaxed Gal 2021

Helen Dami 

Comments

  1. Relaxed girl it is this year o. Nice one dear. I had already written most of these things down and it's so exciting I have a partner. May God see us through.

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    Replies
    1. I am happy you’re adopting the Relaxed Gal attitude 😀 Amen my dear Amen

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