Greeting the New Year
Every January, it feels like we can’t find anything but advice for making New Year’s Resolutions and how to keep them. After all, it’s a new year; why not a new you?
Easier said than done! So instead of creating unrealistic goals, let’s find some ways to bring some more inspiration, renewal, and joy into our lives for this upcoming year. We can all agree that 2020 was more than just a little stressful, so let’s look forward to some positive changes for 2021.
Our advice to you in 2021 is to be kind to yourself.
Maybe you baked bread for the first time in 2020. Maybe you finally found time to put up that new shelf in the kitchen, or write that novel, or took up yoga. And if you did, that’s great! But if you didn’t, and are in any way beating yourself up for that, now is the time to take a deep breath . . . and be kind.
We’ve all been facing unprecedented levels of stress and anxiety for the better part of a year at this point. Recognize that this is a bit of a handicap! You can’t expect yourself to be operating at maximum efficiency under these conditions, so if you’re not, it’s okay. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep at night and staying hydrated throughout the day. Space your resolutions out so you’re not trying to do everything at once. Remember that there’s still time to get things done, even if some dreams are carry-overs from 2020!
Stay in touch with yourself and others.
Sometimes it’s easy to get lost in doomscrolling (aka the tendency to continue to surf or scroll through bad news, even though that news is saddening, disheartening, or depressing). Maybe it’s easy to catch yourself doing this; maybe it isn’t. Either way, the best way to bounce back is to step away from the news. Reach out to friends and family for help or just to aimlessly chat, even if it’s through video calls and text messages. We’re a social species, and even if we can’t get together like normal right now it’s still important to stay in touch and support each other as we all navigate the same new world.
Pour out the guilt and cultivate joy.
If you can identify the things that bring you joy, a sense of accomplishment, or any feeling of connection, keep them in your back pocket for when you need a break. Shut the laptop, close that app, press pause on that goal that’s started to feel like work, and just . . . indulge! Having fun is vital to mental health, and provides the motivation we need to keep moving forward through the tougher stuff.
So if your way to unwind at the end of the day is a glass of Pinot Noir? Savor every sip! Explore the aroma (scents from the grape varietal as well as the pre-fermentation and fermentation process, i.e. yeast and malolatic fermentation) and the bouquet (qualities developed in the barrel and the bottle). Figure out the best dinner pairing to make both the food and the wine really sing! We’re constantly adding resources to help you with that in our Wine Life section.
Do whatever it takes to feel uplifted in these trying times. Hang in there, and we hope you have a safe and wholesome 2021!
