After taking some time to reflect on this past year I thought of 20 things I learned in 2020 but I also reflected on how I could take them into 2021. This is one of my longer blog posts but I wrote it in a way that you can skim it easily if you want! Feel free to just read the 20 things and if something interests you, read more under it. I hope you'll be able to take some of this into 2021 too. Happy New Year! 1. It’s okay to actually rest → don’t feel bad when you need to take a day for yourselfBefore this year, the idea of taking a day for myself and not doing anything seemed absolutely crazy and if I did it, I even felt guilty that I should have done something else. Now I learned that it really is okay and it actually helps and makes it easier to start again the next day. 2. rest → make sure you actually do take days for yourselfAfter seeing that it is actually okay to rest, I learned how important it really is. Going days on days without ever resting just sets you up for a crash (which I have had many of). Resting lets you keep going for longer and I’ve found it even makes me happier. Going into 2021, I hope to make Sundays my rest day where I take the time to be with Jesus and focus on resting for the week ahead. 3. Really prioritize what makes you happy → if it doesn’t make you happy consider if you really need it or need to do itAfter having some time to quarantine and not having a lot of things to do, I've thought why am I doing things that don’t make me or others happy (or is working towards completing a goal). I found I was doing things because that’s what we were “supposed” to do or because other people “expected” me to do it, but that doesn't have to be the case. If we step back and look at our schedule we should consider how important the activity really is in our lives. If it not moving towards a goal or doing something for others maybe we should take it out and put something in that will bring us joy. 4. Seeing a friend in person is the greatest privilege → don’t worry about checking your phone when you’re with a friend, be thereAfter experiencing the pandemic where you literally could not get together with friends, I saw how much of a privilege it was to go to a friend’s house or meet at a local restaurant. Once we’re able to safely meet and do this again, I hope to remember this and be able to be with my friend (not checking my phone or getting distracted because we’ve done enough of that during the pandemic) but to really be present. 5. You don’t have to give 100% 24/7 → choose what is worth itSome things aren’t worth giving 100%. It's especially not important to give 100% to everything. In fact it probably isn’t possible and you could burn out, but by prioritizing what is important, you can give 110% to what is important and 80% to something else and it is just as good. You can be happier this way too. If it’s not as important there is no need to stress about it. 6. Rely on Jesus because He’s got you → don’t forget He is always thereIf you’re a Christian, I’m sure you can relate to this one, but it can definitely be hard to remember at times. Multiple times this year, I turned on my Spotify playlist and the Christian music just brought me peace. When I needed Him the most, I hit shuffle on the top Christian songs and got a song that I had never heard before but it was exactly what I needed in that moment and through the rest of the week. It’s so easy to turn away when things get hard, but turning to Jesus in prayer or in worship just makes things so much better. 7. Live in the moment → take everything one step at a time and enjoy itBy living in the moment it is unlikely that you’ll miss something. Putting your phone away (yes for pictures and videos too), and listening and acknowledging your movement brings so much more meaning into the moment and makes life just a bit better. I’ve found that it adds more happiness too. 8. There are ways to control stress → take a step back and take care of yourself One of my favorite realizations this year was that you can (sometimes) get to the breaking point before the real stress gets to you. Taking moments for yourself with rest, yoga, meditation, time with friends, etc. can help you breathe and get ready to move forward in life and be your best. 9. It’s okay to not text back right away → you don’t have to be connected to your phone 24/7People will understand if you reply in a few hours or in a day and not right at that moment. You don’t need to feel bad about it either. After experiencing a time where I struggled to text back this semester, I felt so bad and felt that people would be angry even though I physically struggled to pick up my phone. People understood though and I didn’t have to explain myself. It’s okay to reply later that day. 10. Keep the friends who see you ugly cry and are still there for you even after it → be that person for those friends too and listen wellSomeone gave me this piece of advice later in the year and it was at the right time. After having a large bump in the road in November and doing exactly this, I felt so grateful to have these friends. I was thinking how I could take this with me into 2021 - the way you are a good friend to others is to be there for them in that way and to really listen when they need you. 11. I have privilege → use this to help those who don’t and help make the world a better placeAs a white person in America, I have privilege. I knew this before, but I learned so much more this year. I hope a lot of people can connect to this one too. I also have the opportunity to fight for those who can’t and with a new year it is important to remember to not forget and to keep pushing for a country that is equal. 12. Don’t take family for granted and give them phone calls → a 10 minute phone call is only 10 minutes but it makes their day and yoursFamily is so great and another thing to be thankful for. Don’t take them for granted and if you’re thinking of giving them a call, do it! Don’t wait. 10 minutes really isn’t that much of your day and it is impactful for both you and them. 13. Just 5 minutes of yoga and/or meditation can be life changing → do it!Even if you only have a few minutes, doing just a little bit of yoga and mediation every day changes things (slowly). After doing yoga for a year, I’ve found my body looking forward to it and I’m even more flexible. After meditation for just two weeks, I’ve been able to wake up on time, run without being so nervous, and go to sleep just a little bit faster. Taking a few moments for yourself changes not only how your body feels, but also how your mind reacts to everyday life. 14. I have a really great support system of friends and family → show gratitude as much as you canAfter seeing people I love and people I have never met come along side and support me through my Ulman goal of raising $10,000 or people who were there when I struggled the most this year, I easily saw how blessed I am to have such an amazing support system. Even just by you reading this right now, I feel blessed for you. I am so grateful, but I hope to show more gratitude to those I love this upcoming year. 15. It’s okay to move life around and not live on a schedule at every second → I still need schedules, but it’s okay to change themBefore quarantine, I lived off of a schedule that I made every night before bed by the minute. I was good at moving some things around, but often felt bad if I didn’t do it all. I found I still do need schedules to get things done, but if they need to change even by an entire day that is totally okay because it will get done. Even when big plans change (like not being able to physically run across the country), it’s okay and new things can happen instead! 16. The world can be very selfish – More reasons why the little things matter → Be that person who will smile or hold the doorAfter seeing the major selfishness that comes in the world, it made it more evident of how important it is to help others and give others little reasons to smile. You don’t know how other people are feeling, so why not do something that will make their day. You and I can be that person to make the world just a little bit better. 17. If you work really hard towards your fitness goals – you’ll get close → keep expectations low but reach for high goals – keep goals and push to be your best but always be proudThis one may be more personal because every body type is different but after this summer and training and running at my hardest ever, I learned getting abs and that “perfect” body type is HARD, but I also learned to really appreciate my body and see it did change and it is strong. Most importantly I learned to always be proud. Just getting out there is an accomplishment – especially after the days I’ve had where it felt impossible to get off the couch, but I did it. There is no room to be disappointed there. Small steps towards a goal and staying active is a reason to be proud. 17. You don’t have to eat gross healthy food every single day → watch what you eat, but eat some chicken nuggets every once in awhileThis is another one that could be more personal because everyone is different, but after trying some diets and trying to eat healthy all the time, I learned that for me, personally at least, I don’t have to eat what I don’t like. I still need to watch what I eat and choose healthy options but if I have a cheat day with chicken nuggets – there is no reason to feel bad. I always like to say I run so I can eat (which is only partly true) but after training and running this summer, I learned it is okay to have those cheat day and enjoy what you’re eating. 19. You don’t have to run fast to be good → appreciate you can move and don’t focus on the timeAfter lots and lots of running this year, I have had lots of time to reflect. I’ve found that running slow and running long is my favorite. There is this idea in society that you have to run fast to be good – but I don’t think that’s true! Success comes from just getting outside and doing something that makes you proud. 20. I’m a cat person → so I’ll give griz more snugglesThis one is more of a fun one but the question is always asked - are you a cat person or a dog person and after lots of thought I’d have to say cat person (because of my cat Grizwald). Griz got me through 2020. I still do love dogs though a lot but I’ve found that cats might be just a little bit better :)
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