F You 2020!

Christmas certainly will be different this year. But that’s no reason to not think forward to the New Year and a positive start to 2021. I am sure most will gladly join me in saying F You to 2020!

Take this time to really consider how you are really going to make the most of 2021. Most New Years we make plans and commitments to do better, eat better, be healthier, fitter, get a new job, try new things…etc…etc… but most often it falls down by mid-January. Especially the diets and Gym Membership.

But in 2019, never did we think this year would be what it has become. We heard news of a viral outbreak in Wuhan, China in Mid-December and probably thought nothing of it. Within 3-4 months, we were all in lockdown and wondering where on earth this came from. Our whole lives changed and we adapted to a ‘new normal’.

This year, no doubt, has been difficult for many, for many reasons. Be that the isolation from friends, family or just general human contact. The closure of shops, leisure facilities and pubs negated so much of our social life. We could not meet friends, see family, or hug one another. Weddings cancelled, Holidays refunded (eventually) and ultimately all the plans we had for the year been cancelled or postponed. We were in Lockdown all through summer and sadly many never recovered from this. People lost their summers; others lost their jobs and some even lost friends and loved ones to the virus.

Growing unemployment, the economy in freefall, only negativity and woe on the news and radio, people’s mental health truly began to suffer. Stress, frustration, anxiety, depression... all this builds up faced with such uncertain times and the inability to reach out and be with and close to our friends, family and loved ones.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel. There is a vaccine. Hopefully, this will be rolled out quickly and effectively and all this will just be a really bad dream.

2020 has been a challenging year for my personal mental health. All the factors mentioned above, and the challenges people close to me have suffered, it has taken a toll. I lost my granddad at the start of the year, not COVID-19 related, but he was my best friend and we were really close. Not a month later we were put into lock down or furloughed. The challenges and anxiety of going out, going to the shops and the fear of catching the virus in such times was really apparent and really did affect people close to me quite seriously.

However, this year has allowed me to take stock of the year and how we truly need to maximise the opportunities and experiences we have when we have them. As we have seen, the unexpected can happen, albeit unprecedented. I managed to pass my motorbike test and buy my first bike. I made the first tentative steps on writing my own novel. My fitness and running really fell down but I did realize the drivers and motivators I need to really maximise my training and maintain my motivation.

Make the most of time together with friends and family, enjoy what time you have and spend together. Revel in the year's celebrations and truly endeavour to do and try things you may never have before because time is short and as we have seen, you may lose it. Start that hobby, give that musical instrument a try. Get fit or in shape. Ask that person out you always fancied. Say yes to that job offer. Launch your own business. Just say yes to everything!

Make the hopes and dreams of today, the realities and actions of tomorrow!