New year, new me. We’ve all heard the words, but how do you actually achieve that?

2021 has just started, and the bar for the new year could not be lower. Everything changed so much in 2020, and the world is still in a global pandemic. Certainly, looking into the face of a new year can be a bit daunting. It’s impossible to know what obstacles a new year will bring.

Change, however, is not something to be scared of. Thankfully, most people look at a new year as a chance to embrace change, and it really is the perfect time to make every second count. But how can you bring about the change you want to see in yourself and the world around you?

Too many people set unrealistic goals for themselves with their new year's resolutions. But if you’re smart about the goals you set, this will increase your chances of being able to follow through on them

2021 could be the perfect year to make some big decisions and take some steps that you may have been too worried to take in the past. It can only go uphill from here. New year, new you.

Career

So many people lost their jobs in 2020, and so you may not feel that now is the time to take big risks in terms of your work. Career changes you choose to make don’t always have to be big or risky, though more power to you if you decide that now is the time to stake everything on that raise or promotion.

But why stay in a job that makes you unhappy? If you know that your current job doesn’t line up with who you are and what you want out of life in the long run, then it may be time to make a big, life-changing decision.

Change of where you work or even your entire career path is not something to fear, even though it often seems that way. Even if you’ve put a lot of time and energy into a job, climbing the corporate ladder there, you’re allowed to want to leave it.

After all, how high you climb doesn’t matter if you’d rather be on a different ladder entirely. You may have made a lot of progress here, but it’s important to find one that will take you where you actually want to go.

It’s okay to want to keep a job that offers you stability and security, and there’s nothing wrong with choosing that path. But make sure that you take the time to evaluate your job’s impact on you.

Put simply, do what you want to do. Don’t put yourself in the backseat of your own car.

Health

The new year is a time for self reflection and growth, and not just in the professional aspects. Your mental and physical health are both incredibly important. This time of year has a lot of potential, and so do you. 

It’s time to take steps to ensure you’re the best you that you can be.

Especially with the current state of the world, it’s important to keep your health in mind, both mental and physical.

Making sure you’re keeping your body healthy is incredibly important. It’s a new year, which means it’s time to catch up on any doctor or dentist appointments you may have skipped due to the completely unexpected circumstances of 2020.

In addition, though it may be a resolution cliche, make an effort to eat healthier and exercise more. A little bit of change can go a long way in your life, and it’s important to be realistic with the changes you want to make.

A lot of people have taken up cooking in quarantine, as going out to eat isn’t as safe as staying home. Why not find some new, healthier recipes?

And even in quarantining, staying inside all day every day is hardly good for you. It’s important to get up and about when you can, and going for walks could be a good way to improve both your physical and mental health.

In terms of mental health, the start of a new year is the perfect time for reflection on your own habits. Make an effort to stop your bad habits, and pick up some new, good ones.

You could take up a new hobby, as many already have as a result of the large amount of time we all now spend at home. You could also pick up a new book. There are a lot of choices available to you! Learning something new is always a good way to improve upon yourself.

Relationships

You should look out for yourself during these very difficult times, but you should look out for others as well. In the new year, it’s vital that you check in on those closest to you and keep appreciating your loved ones in the new year.

Show those you love that you love them! Friends, family, a significant other— even if you can’t see your favorite people in person right now, there are plenty of easy ways to stay in contact.

However, you have to look out for yourself, too. Are there any people in your life that you find draining to speak to? You may feel like you give more than you get from your relationship with then, and if that’s the case then some changes must be made.

A conversation with anyone that causes you to feel this way could be in order so that you can reach a mutual understanding of where to go from here. And, if you think that the relationship can’t be salvaged, it’s better for both you and the other person to cut ties rather than not being genuine.

It’s not selfish to stop associating with people who treat you badly and have a toxic effect on you. The new year is the perfect time to take stock of these things.

Up to You

All these guidelines to making the big changes you want to see happen are well and good, but ultimately everything depends on you, especially in the new year.

Want to make life-changing decisions? It’s all about the attitude you approach these decisions with. 

There are a lot of aspects of life that you can’t control or even prepare for, and 2020 made that very clear. But as the first month of the new year draws to a close, it’s important to remember that your attitude about everything you face is completely up to you.

And once you have the right attitude, setting and achieving goals just becomes that much easier. If you want to make a big, life-altering decision in your life that will be in your best interests, just make up your mind to make it happen!