2020 is FINALLY coming to an end in a matter of days, and I’m sure everyone is ready for it to be over with. Of course, it can be expected that some things from this year will still spill over into 2021, but we can handle it. Right?

We all know that the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t going to magically disappear or go away at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. So, we can expect it to still be around in 2021.

In looking forward to 2021, I’m reminded of the saying from the late singer, John Lennon, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” Wouldn’t you agree that this year has been the living embodiment of this saying? Heck, I’m even hesitant to make any plans for the new year or be overly optimistic about the new year!

Trying To Stay Positive Is Important

There’s plenty of things we can all do to try and stay positive in 2021. For starters, just thinking positively can change your outlook on life. Many of us have become curmudgeons in our old age, but we can still turn this around and try to look for the silver lining in any occasion. It seems daunting at times, but it can be done.

One obvious thing you can do is talk to your family and friends on the phone or Zoom. Have you been doing that already? Well, until this pandemic calms down, it might be one of the best ways to stay connected to your loved ones without worrying about catching or spreading the illness.

What Can You Do Help Stay Positive In The New Year?

In writing this blog, I remembered that I kept an old newspaper article on the fridge from New Years’ of 2017 that had some great advice to keep stress away and start the year off right. Here are the bullet points from that article:

Read a book. Whether it’s digital or an actual book, cracking open a new page-turner could be refreshing at the beginning of the year.
Plan. Maybe it’s a trip somewhere in the state or just keeping a planner to help you stay on top of your tasks for the week or month. Personally, I update my to-do list weekly. This allows me to see what needs to be done, what’s most important and keeps tasks from falling through the cracks.
Clean out your car. With many restaurants only offering takeout or delivery, your car is probably a little messy from picking up dinner for either yourself or your family. Removing the trash from your car is a move in the right direction to have a clutter-free New Year.
Go somewhere alone. Moms everywhere will rejoice over this idea! It could be a solo trip to the bathroom (hello, toddlers!), or even a trip to Target to get the “essentials.” And who couldn’t use the alone time?
Free up digital space. When was the last time you cleaned out your email? Like, I really cleaned out your email. What about all those memes you saved on your phone? It’s probably time to go through all that digital junk and delete what you don’t need or don’t want anymore.
Check on your finances. After Christmas is a great time to look at your finances, not just to see the damage done from the holidays, but to see where everything is financial. This can allow you to find a budget for home projects, or hopefully, even a trip this year.
Go for a walk. Did you get enough of this activity during quarantine this year? If not, then maybe a brisk walk in the winter air will help you recharge your batteries for the coming year.
Reflect. Looking back at 2020, was there anything you wanted to accomplish or were hoping for that didn’t happen? Did something eventful happen for you that might not have happened had it not been for quarantine (baby boom, anyone?) or working from home? Looking at what happened, or didn’t happen, could help you reflect on how you’re lucky and how things could’ve been different.
Set goals. This probably seems like a no brainer, but now is a great time to set new goals for the new year. Are you planning on losing some weight, changing careers, buying a house, or maybe trying to start a family? This could be the year to make those goals a reality!

Don’t Let Yourself Spoil 2021 Before It Even Starts!

At the end of the day, don’t let 2021 be another dumpster fire. Some things are completely out of your control, and you won’t be able to do anything about them. But most other things you can control, like your attitude or how you react to certain situations. If something doesn’t go as you planned, see if you can still attain your dream in another way, or maybe it has to be put off another year.

The team with Albuquerque Plumbing Heating & Cooling wants to wish you a happy and safe New Year. We hope that you use some of these tips starting on January 1st, and we’re pretty sure that we’ll be using some of these tips to ease ourselves into 2021 as well.