Yearly, we prepare a list of resolutions to be better versions of ourselves. “I will eat right,” “I will exercise more,” “I will prioritize my health,” “I will spend more time with family and friends,” and “I will spend more wisely” are some of the common must-do’s that people recycle. As much as we want to, we can’t seem to stick to these seemingly simple goals. 2020 came along and made us face these resolutions head on — we were all just indoors trying to survive the infection. What else can we do but follow through on this to-do list? Even though we had all this extra time, it still didn’t make it any easier for us. There was so much going on and yet nothing happening at the same time.
Many individuals took to drinking more often, even daily, chalking it to a “whatever” attitude toward the pandemic. Some became more rigorously involved with exercise, more than they ever had before, because they had too much time on their hands. Obviously, there is no right and wrong way to have dealt with any of this. The extended period of time we spent on our own became both a bane and a boon. Some became more productive, even working weekends now. Others unfortunately were hit hard by their lonesome and became depressed.
A year after the COVID crisis started, we’re now more aware that we should be kinder to ourselves. What worked for others may not give the same results for us. There is no cookie-cutter pattern we can follow. Comparing ourselves with others, especially to people we see online, is the worst thing we can do. Adhering to celebrities’ diets, their exercise routines, and sporting their nice activewear will not give us their life. We have to be aware of that. Less screen time will help us gain more perspective on this. Aside from working wonders for our mental health, decreasing social media and online exposure will also give our eyes a rest, lessening eye strain and dryness — gotta put that ophtha spin on things, of course.
We all need to go at our own pace and have our own goals in mind, not what anybody tells us to do. Writing a daily to-do list and crossing off items we’ve accomplished is a good place to start. Keeping our resolutions, especially the ones about health, and being consistent with them will help us achieve these goals. Set up those doctors’ appointments and put a reminder on your phone so you don’t forget. If you’re on your phone or computer too long, set an alarm so you remember to blink. Checking off small easy tasks may seem trivial now but when you add them up, you’ll realize you’re actually on your way to a healthier you.
