Hindsight 2020 was my 2021 Reset Button!

Hindsight 2020 was my 2021 Reset Button!

I have always considered myself an eternal optimist but even the eternal optimist struggles in the face of adversity! As COVID19 forced us to be isolated from the luxuries of what we once called “NORMAL” life, I went through what I like to refer to as my “5 stages of COVID life grief”. Like mourning the loss of something you love, I had to mourn the loss of our normal life to get me to a place of acceptance of our “new normal”. Acceptance is what lead me to press the reset button on 2021 and have a “Fresh Start”.

My “5 stages of COVID life grief” through the 4 seasons looked like this:

SPRING: “The beginning of the end!”

Stage #1: Shock/disbelief- "WTF, this can’t be happening?"

This couldn’t be happening in Canada? Not in our country? They aren’t shutting down businesses and forcing people to stay home? It’s not possible.

Stage #2: Frustration- "All these rules are ridiculous!"

I have to social distance from my family and friends? What do you mean I can’t hug my Mom? This is too much togetherness at home! If I have to be stuck in this house with my family one more day I’m going to SCREAM!!! You have to be kidding…..we have to wear a mask everywhere?? URRRRGGGG!!! I even came up with my own little mask wearing jingle to cope with this ridiculous rule.

“Really hating this mask thing, remembering to put it on is a task thing, makes me want to gasp thing, this having to ask “do I need a mask” thing, I can’t breathe in this mask thing, oh damn I forgot my mask thing, this pain in the ass thing, really hating this mask thing.”

SUMMER: “We can do this!”

Stage #3: Delusion-"Oh it’s getting better! "

Let’s get outside, social distance with family & friends. Everything will be back to normal soon. We got this!

FALL: “Will this ever end!”

Stage #4: Ground Hog Day RUT!

Work, homeschool, cook, eat, eat some more, drink a bottle of wine, more wine please, couch, Netflix. REPEAT!!

WINTER: “Time to cozy up! "

Stage #5: Acceptance- "We’re in for a long ride! "

I finally came to the realization COVID life was going to get worse before it gets better. The only thing I had control of was how I was reacting to it. I decided to look towards the few positive things COVID life had afforded us and turn them into a powerful force for creating what I wanted for 2021.

TRANSFORMATION; Everyday will not be easy but with everyday it will get easier!

In an effort to get myself out of stage #4 the “Ground Hog Day RUT”, I needed to find a more positive head space, but where to start? Instead of wasting time with distractions like social media, online shopping and Netflix, I became determined to make 2021 a year of focus and transformation. I did not want to make the same old New Year’s resolutions unsuccessfully as I had in past years. I wanted to use what I had went through in my “5 stages of COVID life grief” as a reflection of new insights to create what my 2021 would look like. I decided 2021 would be my year of ACCOMPLISHMENTS! How do you define an accomplishment? Exactly as the definition would describe it. Accomplishment- something that has been achieved successfully, the successful achievement of a task or an activity that a person can do well, typically as a result of study or practice. (From Oxford Languages)I initiated my 2021 “Fresh Start” action plan just before the end of 2020. My plan was to target all the things I had been procrastinating and neglecting during COVID life. I was hoping making these things my target would catapult me into achieving my 2021 list of Accomplishments.

What was I neglecting and procrastinating?

With that question my 2021 list of things to accomplish created itself!

Projects at Home; when I moved into my place 2 years ago it needed of a lot of TLC! I had a list of things I wanted to improve, paint, update, clean out and purged. I struggled to find the motivation to get these tasks started, meanwhile there was a pandemic going on and we were stuck indoors. Wouldn’t I feel better if our indoors looked better? Reading; there was a time when I was an avid reader and this was something I had wanted to get back to. Although I knew reading was a much better use of my time then scrolling through social media, I kept finding excuses or should I say “distractions” not to do it. Why was this? Had I lost my thirst for knowledge and my drive to learn new things? Myself; I have always been an active person, so exercise was a huge part of my life. With the gyms closed and my family at home, where was I going to squeeze in a workout? I was not exercising regularly, I was eating more and drinking more. Drinking wine daily became my new norm and a go to coping mechanism for what was going on. As a result I became an exclusive member of the “COVID 19Lbs club”. Between the kids being out of school and my partner temporarily off work, I spent most my energy focused on keeping things as normal as possible for the them and their well-being, in turn I was completely neglecting my own. My anxiety level was at an all-time high and I was struggling to find ways to get it under control. How can I find some time for myself so I can get my mind clear and in a positive space? Money; it has been a long time goal of mine to get my finances in order. I wanted to pay down my debt. I had been procrastinating because I didn’t know where to start. I didn’t have much accessible income and I wasn’t sure how to successfully build more. Although I kept thinking to myself, I’m not spending much because nothing is open, I should be doing something with the extra money?

All these questions were going through my head over and over again like a movie reel. I knew the answers but struggled to find the momentum I needed to put things into action.

What was the one thing that COVID gave us that we always complained we never had enough of before? Time!!

At the beginning of November, I finally had enough. I forced my butt off the couch and began tackling projects around the house. I knew this was a great place to start to get me motivated and make me feel productive. While working on stuff around the house I started thinking about how I could turn some of the negative daily habits I had acquired during COVID life into more productive ones. I knew I needed to start small or else it would all seem way too overwhelming. Slowly I integrated some daily habits like listening to some of the most influential podcast personalities on my way to work. During this time I also stumbled upon a little unknown to me app called “Tik Tok”. Yes, no one was more shocked then I, to discover there is some very valuable and inspirational content shared on this app (and let’s be honest a lot of entertaining stuff too)! Tik Tok gave me a lot of great ideas for things to research and try as part of tackling my 2021 list. These activities rejuvenated my interest in reading and learning new things. It had been a long time since I had finished a book, so I jumped online to purchase a book by one of my new favorite spiritual influencers then vowed to read it from beginning to end! These little steps I was taking began to change my perspective on the current situation. Inevitably the little things evolved into bigger things that launched the beginning of my 2021 “Fresh Start”.

Don't be afraid to ask the hard questions, it's the only way you'll have the courage to find the answers!

This is how I transformed the things I was procrastinating into my 2021 list ACCOMPLISHMENTS and my plan for tacking them:

1) Project DYI! Home Improvement

Purchase what I needed to start! Place the supplies in an area I have to look at them every day .This will drive me crazy enough to just do it! First project was the basement. This was the biggest project so if I could complete this one the rest would seem small. End goal was to convert the basement into a “Home Gym” this would encourage me to start on accomplishment # 2!

2) Get with the program! Start a regular exercise regimen.

With a private space in the basement there would be no excuse not to exercise. I could find some workout equipment online and start utilizing a workout app and get with the program! I would use exercise as a healthy outlet for stress and commit to it at least 4-5 days a week. In the process also lose the COVID 19lbs.

3) “For the love of Food” stop eating everything!

Cooking is the right thing to do to maintain a healthy lifestyle but not if you’re cooking unhealthy things! My goal was to continue cooking but to eat clean and limit indulgences. To inspire me, I will try at least one new healthy recipe a week to help keep me on track. I will use this experiment to expand my recipe sharing and food journey on social media.

4) Become a Quitter! Cut down/stop drinking alcohol

Let me preference this one with, I don’t have a drinking problem but I have definitely developed an unhealthy relationship with wine during COVID life. I’m also not convinced that it isn’t a large contributor to my increased anxiety levels. I want to make sure I am not seeing life from an altered state and alcohol can create that. I believe if I eliminate it I will see an increase in my focus and clarity.

5) Be a Book Worm! Read More

We all know reading is a much more useful pastime then trolling through social media posts. In 2021 I will commit to reading 5 books that will inspire me, that I’ll learn from and one that I just simply enjoy because I can’t put it down!

6) Learn the Side Hustle! Increase my income to help pay down my debt

Another thing COVID life has given some of us is extra money. Whether it’s saving money not doing as much or having extra time at home to start one of the many online side hustles, 2021 is the year this is absolutely possible.

I plan to utilize these 2 things to my advantage. I will research the many online side hustles to find my niche in that space and start doing it. I will start my “Wine Fund” by allocating a set $ amount from what I am saving weekly to pay towards my debt. Part of this will be the money I am not spending on wine to align with achieving accomplishment #4.

My 2021 “Fresh Start” Progress Report

I started 2021 off strong and feel amazing about what I have been able to accomplish so far. Accomplishment #1 & #2 are well on they’re way. My home gym is complete and I have been actively using it! I am excited to share I am down 10lbs and 11 ½ inches to date. I attribute that to my new regular home workout program. I still have 10lbs to go so accomplishment #3 is a work in progress. As for #4, I made the decision to go “AF (alcohol free)”on November 4, 2020 and haven’t looked back! This is definitely one of the best things I have done for myself mentally. My anxiety levels became almost non-existent. Putting down the wine bottle, brought me so much clarity and finally the ability to focus. I have chosen and purchased my 5 books in order to complete #5 on the list but this will probably take the balance of the year to accomplish. #6 has proven to be the most challenging so far as I haven’t learned my niche hustle yet! I am dedicating time weekly to research and learn some of these new skills. My weekly “Wine Fund” is in place to put the additional money I am saving not drinking towards my debt. I still have a ways to go in knocking everything off my list but it’s incredible to see the snowball effect just pushing myself to start one thing has had. I challenge you to ask yourself, “What has COVID life been holding you back from? “What’s on your list of things to accomplish in 2021?” I hope my story inspires you to think about what would press your reset button and make 2021 you’re “Fresh Start”? If you can’t find the energy to do anything else this year just try to find the courage to START! Cheers to 2021 being your “Fresh Start”!

Words that don't inspire ACTION are simply words!