2020 IS HERE!
Did you check out the [Guide] Making 2020 Your Year?
If not, stop and check that one out because THAT will give you the step-by-step layout for setting up your 2020 goals.
If you already did and you’re still stuck on how to really crush 2020, let’s go through 20 ways to make 2020 your best year yet.
Cut the Toxic Crap
I’m not messing around here. This is a big one I think so many of us can work to improve this year.
It’s time we get honest with ourselves and take a long, hard look at ourselves in the mirror. If you look at yourself and you’re unhappy with the person staring back at you,
then it’s time for change.
And what better time for change than the start of a new year AND decade.
Make this the year you choose to cut the toxic crap that’s making you feel dissatisfied
with the person staring back at you.
Each and every time you say YES to something, you’re saying NO to another.
YES to junk food, NO to weight loss.
YES to social media, NO to productivity and face-to-face connection.
YES to gossip, NO to honest relationships.
YES to online shopping, NO to getting financially fit.
These are ALL things you want; I hear it all the time, but how can you possible expect to achieve those things or to grow and succeed when you’re not leaving time or space for that to happen?
Eat Better
A classic New Year’s Resolution.
I bet you’ve been telling yourself you’re going to eat better and get back on the diet train ever since you stepped on the scale after Thanksgiving (maybe even sooner!).
You probably told yourself you were going to start eating better LAST year and the year before and the year before that….
You get the point.
SO WHY DON’T YOU JUST DO IT ALREADY!?
You don’t have to go make the drastic shift to all clean and organic foods, but just
commit to eating BETTER.
Cut back on pop and alcohol.
Eat breakfast.
Eat 2 servings (1 to 2 cups) of veggies per day.
Eat out once per week.
Just do something BETTER as it relates to your nutrition this year.
Move Your Body
Ah, another classic.
You’ve probably told yourself this is the year for the last few years with this one too, huh?
Again, it doesn’t say exercise 7 days a week or enter a physique competition, it says MOVE YOUR BODY.
We are a sedentary culture and your body is longing for more movement! Keep it simple and add in bits and pieces of movement to your day if you’re not quite ready to jump on the full workout train.
Stand up every hour at your desk.
Go for a walk every morning and night.
Do some light stretching when you wake up and before bed.
Go for walks after meals.
Exercise during commercial breaks.
Park further away at the store.
Do something that generates more movement in your day.
Read
In the era of social media, reading seems to be more forgotten about each year.
Spend 15 to 20 minutes less on social media or perusing the Internet per day and dedicate that time to reading.
Brainstorm a list and keep knocking them off.
Include fiction and nonfiction, so you’re stimulating your imaginative creative side but also learning how to improve your life.
This is an investment. It’s a strategy for improving yourself a bit more each and every day because knowledge is power.
Still convinced you don’t have time to sit down and read? Grab your headphones and lock up a book on Audible to listen on your drive, during a walk, or on your lunch break.
There’s really no excuse.
Spend Time with Yourself
It wasn’t too long ago I realized I HATE being alone. I will do whatever I can to fill my time with people or things.
But then I realized I was so out of touch with what I really wanted in life that I was living a life that was really only bringing me further away from my purpose and goals.
If you’re out of touch with yourself, make 2020 about spending more time with yourself.
Give yourself 15 minutes per day or 1 hour per week where it’s just you with you. No phone, tv, computer, friends, family members, or anything.
You’re probably wondering what you should do in that time then…
- Read
- Meditate
- Go for a walk
- Workout (without music)
- Listen to music
- A hobby or activity you enjoy
The list is endless, but the point is that you’re connecting with yourself.
Journal
Speaking of journaling…
That’s a pretty good resolution for 2020.
I jumped on the journal bandwagon in February 2019, and at the end of 2019 I took some time to look back on where a little less than a year prior.
It’s crazy to look back at where and who I was, but the coolest part was noticing the change in my perspective.
I went from viewing myself as the victim in certain situations to the student eager to learn, and I KNOW that’s how I approach each day now.
Journaling doesn’t have to be a 20-minute event. Keep it to a short 5-minute bout where you answer a few prompts or questions like these:
- What was your victory for the day?
- What’s something that didn’t go your way?
- Why is that a positive situation?
- What did you learn?
- What are you grateful for?
- What’s your goal?
See, short, sweet, and to the point.
Start a Hobby
What do you do for fun?
For a lot of us, that’s a really tough question to answer.
We go to work, spend time with family, do some more work, work on house projects, and go to bed.
We’ve grown into this constant hustle culture that we’ve forgotten about doing things for pleasure and enjoyment.
Spend more time this year with your hobbies and doing the things you love.
Don’t have a hobby or know what you enjoy? Spend time finding one!
Try new things!
“But I don’t have time!”
No, you’re CHOOSING not to have time.
Quit hustling around and trying to cram in one more hour of work and sit down to try out a hobby.
It’s a great way to spend time with yourself or friends and family who share the similar interest!
And on another note, it will actually improve your focus and productivity for the things you need to do each day because it gives your mind a break.
Get Financially Fit
Another one of those classic New Year’s Resolutions. I thought I would spread them out so you don’t get too sick of reading the same old things.
Isn’t it about time you get your finances in order? You’ve only been talking about it for years….
This is not to say you need to eliminate all debt in 2020 because that may not be in the cards for you (HELLO student loans) but find a few areas you can better use your money.
Cut back on your online shopping by keeping it to specific products, sites, or items you cannot buy in store.
Eat out less.
Buy a few less pull tabs at the bar.
Don’t buy products as soon as they come out.
Minimize the unnecessary purchases at the grocery store.
These are all little things that can really add up and help leave you with a bit more in your bank account this year.
Power of Positive Thinking
Maybe it’s because of the toxic crap in our lives, but there’s a lot of pessimism in our world today.
Set the intention to build a more positive mindset in 2020.
Start by taking a few moments at the end of the day or the next morning to find
challenging scenarios to reflect upon and find the positive.
Practice reframing when you find yourself negative and down in a scenario.
Eliminate negative self-talk and words like can’t, won’t, or don’t.
Who knows how many opportunities you could be missing because your vision is clouded with negativity?
Get Outside
When’s the last time you went outside for the heck of it? Childhood?
Commit more time to being outside this next year!
I get it, it’s January in Minnesota so it’s cold, but take advantage of these warmer 25-30-degree days. Then, as soon as the snow starts to melt, get outside to take in the beautiful scenery as new things begin to blossom.
During spring, summer, and fall, take your work outside. We all have laptops and phones that we take EVERYWHERE, we might as well take them outside to get some fresh air and vitamin D.
Plan for Happiness
I’m going to tell you right now – you’re going to get down and go through some rough patches in 2020.
Now that you know it, the best thing you can do is prepare for it.
Lay out the things that make you happy – like a Happiness Package – so when things start to get hard and you start to feel down, your pick me up is set.
Here’s a list of things to give you an idea where to start:
- Read a good book
- Set aside a fun or personal project
- Exercise
- Stretch or Yoga
- Dance
- Listen to music
- Get outside
- Volunteer
- Take part in a hobby
- Craft
- Spend time with friends
- Talk with someone or a therapist
- Get out of the house or away from work
First Hour of the Day
These days we are in such a hurry to get to the next thing.
You wake up in the morning and you rush into your day, but why?
I guarantee there’s some extra time in there that’s not necessarily used well.
If you could do one thing for yourself in 2020, I recommend giving yourself time in the morning.
Try to give yourself one hour first thing in the morning.
“I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THAT!”
Trust me, you do.
Prepare things the night before, get off social media, and wait until you get to work to
work!
The hustle and bustle of this society causes you to push off these life-enriching, good-
for-you type things. You wait and wait to do these things until the end of the day MAYBE once you’ve spent the entire day giving to EVERYONE else all day. You have next to nothing to give to yourself.
So give yourself the gift of time in 2020.
Wake up earlier (yes, go to bed earlier) to tackle some self-development things when you HAVE time and energy to dedicate to yourself.
Does it sound selfish? Maybe a little absurd?
Definitely, but if you cannot give to and care for yourself you will not be able to give to and care for others as effectively.
Go for Walks
Want to kill two birds with one stone from this list?
Spend 2020 going for more walks!
You get outside AND move your body!
I said it before, but I’ll say it again – we live in a sedentary culture. We live in a culture that needs to move more!
Get up, go outside, and go for a walk.
If you really want to get something out of it, leave the phone at home or on do not disturb so you really get time with yourself and nature.
Too cold in the winter?
Walk around your office building or the house.
Get more steps and movement however you can in your day.
Treat Yourself
Back to that giving to everyone before yourself conversation…
We love to buy or do things for significant others, family members, and friends.
But when’s the last time you treated yourself?
Treat yourself!
Give yourself the opportunity to recharge and feel special.
Why?
BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT!
Quit treating yourself like garbage or the last one to the table and start treating yourself like the Rockstar you really are.
Face-to-Face Connections
When’s the last time you sat down with someone, looked them in the eye, and actually had a conversation?
With all of the technology we are losing the human connection with people. It’s hindering our ability to hold face-to-face communications, read body language, and process emotions.
Spend more time connecting with others in 2020.
Hang up the phone or cancel out social media and connect with the person across from you!
Make it a point to get together with someone each week. That person could be a significant other, family member, friend, or coworker.
If that’s too much, start by putting the phone down when you eat dinner with your family or when your coworker starts to talk with you.
Drink More Water
I had a great conversation over Christmas about how much water you should drink each day.
Actually, I had the same conversation twice.
BOTH were so proud of all the water they drink in a day.
BOTH were also SHOCKED to hear they’re still WAY under-hydrating.
Hydrate yourself in 2020.
There are so many benefits to drinking more water:
- More energy
- Improved skin, hair, and nail health
- Joint lubrication
- Keeps muscles and tissues fresh
- Flushes waste
- Regulates body temperature
- Assists in blood pressure maintenance
- Aids in weight loss
That’s not even all..
Water could CHANGE your 2020.
So how do you drink more water?
Here’s how I can guarantee 12 cups of water per day:
- 1C first thing when you wake up in the morning
- 1C 30 minutes prior to every meal
- 1C Upon conclusion of each meal
- 1C 30 minutes prior to bed
*The 12 cups is determined based upon eating 5 meals per day.
Pat Yourself on the Back
Earlier I warned you that you’re going to face some rough patches, but now I’m here to tell you that you’re going to do some incredible things this year.
When you’re down, you have to work to pick yourself up.
When you’re up, you have to work to keep yourself up.
Give yourself some credit and pat yourself on the back this upcoming year.
It’s not arrogant or prideful to toot your own horn, it’s recognizing your worth and accomplishments.
Take a moment each day to acknowledge something you did well or what you’re proud of. Include it as part of your journal session or share it with a spouse or family member to end the day.
Take a Day Off
Want to know what I’m working on this year?
^This^
But I don’t think I should be the only one.
You could probably use a day off as well.
Plan it.
Schedule it.
Tell the people who may need you.
Follow through with it.
Work can wait. So will chores, house projects, and other miscellaneous projects.
Your health (mental and physical) cannot.
Start by planning a half day off and work your way up to a full day – trust me, from experience, it makes it a lot easier 😉
Get Organized
Again, I may seem like a Type A personality, but this is a game changer.
Where could you use some organization in your life?
Your desk?
Bedroom?
Kitchen?
Car?
Your calendar?
Find areas where you can reduce clutter.
The removal of clutter can help you to free up time, eliminate stress, and decision fatigue.
Start by cleaning up one area and continue to clean up other areas of your life as the year progresses.
Dream Big
This is the start of a new year.
One filled with opportunities.
So in 2020, keep your eyes focused on the opportunities and continue to seek them out.
Take time to DREAM this year!
Look for things that tug at your heartstrings and give you that feeling that you NEED it in
your life.
Dream and find ways to make not just 2020 your best year yet, but each year to follow.
About The Author
Jordan Davies is the Co-Owner of Complete Performance. Jordan has her B.S. in Exercise Science and Psychology, and her M.A. in Holistic Health Studies. She is a CSCS certified strength and conditioning coach, and a PN-1 and NCI-1 certified nutrition coach. She loves to study how the human body needs to be moved and nourished and making that fit to your unique lifestyle. Click Here Now to Apply for Coaching with Jordan.
