Try These Simple Steps To Show Up For Yourself In The New Year
A survey from 2016 featured in Harvard Business Review showed that millennials are more likely to give up unused vacation days than previous generations, and 43% of work martyrs are–you guessed it–millennials.
Add taking care of kids and maintaining important relationships into the mix, and it’s no wonder many millennial moms find themselves at the bottom of their own priority lists. This inevitably leads to burnout and unrealized New Year’s resolutions by the end of January every year.
The key to breaking the cycle? Show up for yourself first. Here are a few ways you can do that this year:
1. Stabilize the ‘big three.’
Proper sleep, nutrition, and exercise cannot be ignored. But striking the right balance can be challenging. It will take some time and a lot of trial and error, but it doesn’t have to be boring. You can add some fun by:
– Cooking your way through a new cookbook
– Experimenting with different styles of cuisine
– Recruiting a friend to be your exercise buddy
– Taking up a new outdoor activity, such as rock climbing, ice skating, etc.
– Lighting your favorite candle as part of your nighttime routine
– Replacing doom-scrolling with reading a book before bed.
– With consistency and patience, these things can become life-changing habits.
2. Get serious about therapy.
Poor mental health can show up as physical ailments and can take a massive toll on your ability to function in all areas of your life. If you aren’t already in therapy, search out resources through your employer, church group, primary healthcare provider, or other local organizations.
If you’re already in therapy, it may be time to level up. I take notes before, during, and after my sessions and they are more effective and efficient, and I love that I can look back to see what was said last week or last year.
3. Build your support community.
Have you ever wondered how your favorite movie stars can work on big projects, eat right, maintain their physique, be moms and partners, attend events, and decorate their houses just right? They have help.
Paying a housekeeper to come even semi-regularly could be a worthy investment in your sanity. Having your groceries delivered, and paying a neighborhood kid to walk your dog are other ways to build your support community and get some things off your plate.
One of my favorite ways to build support for myself is to get to know my neighbors, other members of my church, and parents with children in my daughters’ classes. We’ve exchanged childcare, passed down and received second-hand clothes, picked up each other’s groceries, and so much more. And it only costs the price of kindness.
4. Invest in a hobby.
When you’re busy, hobbies can feel like a waste of time and money. But consistently carving out time to do something you enjoy can be energizing.
But it’s not always that easy to know how to show up for yourself. If you’re struggling with ideas, simply try to do more things that make you feel strong, confident, or happy. Commit completely to doing it regularly, and you might be shocked at how big an impact it can have on your life.
