7 Ways To Kickstart The New Year Into High Gear

It’s not too soon to think about 2021 and you.

We’re all looking forward to the end of 2020. While the stroke of midnight on New Years Eve isn’t going to magically transform the world in an instant, we can at least look forward that some things will be less awful. There are very promising Covid vaccines starting distribution. The US has a new president and can begin washing the stain of the previous administration. We may finally be in a place to seriously address some social concerns.

There is a lot of hope to be had for the coming year.

But what about you?

What will 2021 mean for you personally?

That’s up to you, of course, but there are some great ways you can seize the controls and have a say in how your life can change for the better.

Join the side hustle revolution

Who couldn’t use some extra cash? Or is curious to see what another career might be like?

A side hustle is an excellent way to expand your experience and horizons. My wife and I used to go to a lot of arts and crafts fairs. I always thought it’d be fun to be part of that. I already painted a bit on the side. I ended up painting more and became a regular on the local arts and crafts fair circuit for several years, doing a dozen events during the summer across southern New England and a bunch of holiday festivals during the winter.

I was right. It was a lot of fun. I met some great people and learned a lot about being in that kind of business. And it was an excuse to paint more.

I had to leave the circuit for a while after becoming a dad, but I still sell a lot of art online. It’s not enough to make a career change, but it pays for itself and then some. Our holiday shopping is pretty much funded by my art.

Do you have a hobby or an outside interest you’d like to take a stab at monetizing? This could be your year. Do you have a unique idea that you think could become a real money maker?

Give it a shot. The only guaranteed failure is failing to try.

I recommend reading 100 Side Hustles by Chris Guillebeau for some great inspiration and insights into the world of side hustles. Check to see if your local library has e-book and audiobook lending available.

Get to know your neighborhood

I lived in Providence, Rhode Island, for 20 years and never knew my neighbors. I had plenty of friends, but they all lived in other parts of the city or state.

Looking back, I regret not knowing my neighbors more. And I regret not taking better advantage of what my neighborhood had to offer. I knew where the grocery and convenience stores were located. Still, I never gave much thought to the little Italian deli with its extra-sharp provolones until years after leaving the area. Nor did I realize there was a public library less than a mile from my apartment.

More fool, me.

Now I live in a small suburban town. I’ve since learned my lesson, and I know most of the people in my neighborhood. We exchange cards at Christmas and chat with each other when we meet walking our respective dogs. I know where my nearest library is, and I frequented it often before Covid and attended many of their events.

I look forward to returning there when all this pandemic nonsense is over and done with.

I also know where all the cool little food stores are. Stumbling across a local game store has reignited my love of tabletop games. And found a wicked great place for chicken curry.

Getting to know my neighborhood and being a part of it has made life more interesting and enjoyable. Modern life, with all the telecommunications at our fingertips, has, nonetheless, contributed to a sense of isolation.

That can be beaten by stepping out the front door from time to time to see what’s going on outside.

Get into blogging

It’s never too late or the wrong time to start a blog.

Sure, if you’re trying to monetize it or make a career of blogging, you’ve got more challenges ahead of you than there were, say, ten years ago. But this suggestion is just about blogging by itself.

Writing a blog is like keeping a journal. It’s a place to record your thoughts, your wins, your losses, your opinions, or even an interesting fact you’ve learned. An added bonus is that with a blog, you can share all those words with the world.

And if the world is too large, you can restrict access to individual posts or particular users. Or to no one at all. A friend of mine uses her blog to write about her transgender journey. She kept it private at first — just herself. After a year, she began sharing it with friends. It’s been a great experience for her — and for us. She may even take it all-the-way public once the new year begins.

Consider this: Writing is power. Blogging is a way of harnessing and using that power.

Make learning new things a habit

There has probably never been a better time to learn something new than now. If you’re reading this, you likely have access to a computer and an internet connection.

After reading this piece, head over to YouTube and enter “How to play the mandolin” or “how to draw fruit.” Check out any number of online courses being offered by colleges and universities for free. Use a library app to download an e-book or audiobook on how to start a small business.

You’re never too old to learn. I took up learning Japanese in my 30s. I learned how to paint and play the banjo in my 40s. These days? Online marketing. Why not?

The point is that there are no drawbacks to learning something new. It keeps your brain and imagination active and robust. Both good things to have in the coming year.

Create a morning ritual

I’m not talking about the much-vaunted morning routine. This piece isn’t about productivity. It’s about you.

By morning ritual, I mean a simple act you can perform every morning as a way to simply bring yourself some focus and a moment of calm before embarking on the day.

For some, it’s a cup of tea at the kitchen table enjoyed in absolute silence. For others, it’s practicing a few chords on the ukelele for five or ten minutes. Some people start their day with a few pages from a spiritual or inspiring book. I enjoy ten minutes of quiet puffing away on my pipe on the back porch.

It beats getting out of bed and hitting the ground running. Get up. Do your bathroom routine. Turn the coffee maker on. Enjoy your little ritual.

Then be better ready to take on the day.

Moderate your news intake

There’s been a lot in the news lately. As someone who has regularly followed politics for decades, even this past year has been a bit much. When you add Covid on top of that and all the other unsettling events happening around the world, it becomes challenging to find the good news among all the dark noise.

All the news you need to be informed for the day can be gotten in 15 minutes or less.

Much less.

If in the US, take in an NPR news brief for a short, non-biased summary of the morning’s news, then get on with your day. If you’re outside the US, try the BBC. They’re everywhere.

If anything earth-shattering occurs in the middle of the day you have to know about, believe me… someone will let you know.

In the meantime, calm your soul with a little less distress.

Consider mindfulness (or awareness)

Mindfulness has become such a buzzword this past year that I hesitate to use it or even bring it up. Nonetheless, there is something there. If you don’t feel comfortable joining the mindfulness bandwagon, then consider practicing improved awareness.

Be aware of your own thoughts and emotions and how one affects the other. Be aware of your health and how that, too, ties in. Be aware of your surroundings, and be aware of others.

Start a little bit at a time. Beginning inward, then moving outward. Being aware of your own breathing is an excellent way to build a foundation for this practice. When you get to the point of being aware of other people breathing, you’ve become more part of the world.

Welcome to it.

Owning 2021

2020 has been a challenging year. Many people have felt beaten down by events of the past year and are tired of feeling like they’ve no control over their lives.

Who can blame them?

While the calendar changing may seem like an arbitrary marker, it’s the concept of a new year and fresh start that we should embrace. We’ll be reeling from the effects of 2020 for years to come, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take a little more control over our lives and how we choose to live.

My advice is to start small and think big.

Any of the above suggestions make for simple, easy to embrace beginnings for the new year but can affect your life in more expansive ways as time goes on.

If you wish.

Hey. You made it through 2020. Congratulations.

Let’s make 2021 our year — and every year beyond.

Thank you for reading. I’d love to share more with you via my Bi-Weekly Word Roundup newsletter sent to subscribers every other Sunday. It will feature news, productivity tips, life hacks, and links to top stories making the rounds on the Internet. You can unsubscribe at any time.