20 New Habits For The New Year

January 6, 2021 | by Tess

With almost being a week into 2021, I wanted to share some new habits for the New Year. Some of these habits I already do and some I want to start in 2021. What these habits all have in common is they will increase productivity, help manage pain, and give techniques that will help relax and pace yourself during the day. Here are 20 habits for the New Year!

1. Take 10 minutes in the morning to plan out your day.
2. Read for 20 minutes every day.
3. Plan one thing during the day that you will look forward to (can be big or something small)!
4. Make a goals list and write at least one goal a week and 3 goals a month.
5. Perform one act of kindness a day; for example, giving someone a compliment!
6. When you are doing school or work, place your phone in another room; this will significantly decrease your distractions.
7. Take one picture a day so you have something to remember about each day of 2021.
8. Try to get at least 20 minutes of movement into your day, whether that is taking a walk, doing a workout, or any other physical activity.
9. Spend more time outside in nature whether that is sitting outside, taking a walk in nature, or finding new outside hobbies to participate in.
10. Find an activity you are passionate about and/or spend more time on an activity you are already passionate about.
11. Write a letter to yourself and read it at the end of 2021.
12. Develop healthier habits; for example, eating healthier, drinking more water, and incorporating movement into your day.
13. Switch up your routine every 3 weeks so you do not feel unmotivated and like you are living the same day over again.
14. Listen to your body and take multiple breaks throughout the day to pace yourself and manage pain.
15. Get at least 8 hours of sleep a day; this is really helpful for me because lack of sleep is one of my pain triggers.
16. Try holistic methods to manage your pain. I constantly used to take medication to manage my headaches, but over time, I found alternative methods that are much healthier for my body and encourage healthy habits as well.
17. Do not immediately go on your phone in the morning. I find this tip increases my morning productivity and eliminates my chances of being on my phone for hours a day.
18. Take one day off every 2-3 weeks to completely recharge.
19. Self reflect at the end of the day by writing down one thing that you accomplished, one thing you are grateful for, and one thing you want to accomplish tomorrow.
20. Keep a pain journal so you can monitor spikes in your pain and possibly find your triggers. I did this for 2 years and found sound, sunlight, and lack of sleep to trigger a spike in my headaches.