Lessons From The Past 12 Months
In a year like no other, being forced to slow down and reflect has been what a lot of us needed, even if we didn’t realise it.
It’s been a year, literally. A lot has changed, a lot has felt painfully stagnant but it has taught us all so much. Like any challenge that life brings us, the important thing is to take away a lesson. The most shocking thing about the past 12 months, other than how much this nation loves a quiz and a side of banana bread, is that being forced to be at home and not do anything has actually been the way I’ve finally started to get some balance.
A year ago I couldn’t have listed you a single benefit of being forced to slow down but actually there are plenty, and even as things start to relax there are a few things I know I want to hold onto.
We’ve all learnt the true importance of self-care, prioritising both our physical and mental health, and quite how important it is to balance the use of the internet with time away. So while there are some things I never want to do again (I’m looking at you, 2 hour zoom quiz), there are some things I can’t dismiss quite so quickly.
Make rest a priority
This doesn’t have to be sleeping, although that’s actually an incredible thing, who knew?, but taking time to actually relax and do nothing has been so restorative. It’s starting my days off slowly, sleeping a little longer and taking the time to sit still with my morning coffee. It’s spending an afternoo horizontal on the sofa and not feeling guilty. It’s making regular slots to rest and restore instead of waiting till burn out comes rolling round the corner.
Spend more time at home
I’m in a privileged position where I love my home, but old habits die hard and that hasn’t always been the case so I’d find myself constantly needing to be ‘out’ and doing something. Being forced to be home has shown me the joys of it though. While I used to have every evening and weekend bursting at the seams with plans, literally months in advance, there’s a real benefit to be had by ring fencing some time to just be and home and be. No chores, just chilling.
It’s ok to say no, especially when it comes to socialising
As the eternal people pleaser, I’d always be saying yes and committing to any plan that popped up in my diary, even the ones I really didn’t want to go to and would spend weeks dreading. And I know I’m not alone, I know you did it too. An unexpected benefit of the past year is a legitimate excuse to say ‘no’ to anything social and you know what, it’s been revolutionary for this introvert. So if I say no to your dinner or offer for drinks it’s not personal (probably), I just really don’t want to this time. And that is totally fine.
Keep connected, even if we’re sick of technology
We’re all excited to see the people we love but that doesn’t mean we should shun the FaceTimes. So many of us live far away from our families or have so many commitments that even popping round the corner becomes tricky. Coordinating calendars is an actual nightmare (and not something I’ve missed) but a quick video call, or standard call, is a tonic for that. I don’t want to spend my life on zoom but maintaining the habit of calling my gran on a random Tuesday evening or video-calling my parents on the weekend just to say hi for 5 minutes is something I want to keep.
Health really is wealth
Physical and mental, our health and keeping it is utterly vital. This year has been a stark reminder of that, and while none of us should become paranoid there’s definitely room for us to remember quite how good we feel if we move more, eat vegetables and get our daily dose of vitamin D. Some days feel easier than others, but asking for help and prioritising our wellbeing is the most important thing - more than work or what other people think.
From all the upset and chaos from the past year, there’s some comfort in knowing there have been some positive lessons to come from it. What will you continue to do once things return to normal?