Clearing space for 2021
Now that we’re well into the fall, my bet is you’re like me—looking forward to fresh beginnings in the year ahead.
But it still feels pretty far away, doesn’t it? And with everything that’s going on, how can we even begin to find time to think about moving forward?
Here’s the thing, if we don’t make space for our future selves now, we might not be ready to take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities the new year has to offer us.
So, I thought I would share how I plan on beginning to sow the seeds for joy next year.
Turn down the volume
It’s hard to imagine a new life while your old one is busy competing for your attention. You need to create some boundaries—you need some you-time, so you can figure out exactly what’s best for you going forward. That means starting to weed out all those needy habits currently stealing your time.
The biggest culprit? Digital overwhelm. If you don’t start to lower the noise now, the endless rush of emails, meetings, responsibilities (and responses!) will flow right on into next year.
There’s no time like the present to pare back. Doing so will ensure you’re ready to take full advantage of all your freed up time in the new year. If you slowly start making changes now, there won’t be as much work to do when the clock strikes midnight.
You don’t have to throw the digital baby out with the bathwater, though. Tech has the potential to be a force for good in your life too. And it might even help you seize your goals. You can read more about that here.
Make space to listen, rest, and dream
Actionable ideas start their lives as daydreams. By removing distractions and freeing up space in your personal life, you’re permitting yourself to rest and do more dreaming.
A certain state of relaxation is needed to gain insight into our life and how we should be living it. So breathe deep, hunker down, and get ready to be so unproductive that it’s productive.
We all have our favourite way to chill out, relax, and let our creative juices flow. My best ideas come to me when I’m moving outdoors, but we’re all different. These techniques are great for provoking ideas:
Journal: Keep a pen and pad close by to catch any ideas when they come up. On your bedside table is a must!
Meditate: All kinds of interesting thoughts and feelings float to the surface when you meditate. Try closing your eyes and visualizing what you want to see in your future.
Go for a walk: Spending time outdoors, away from digital devices and anything else that might distract you, is a fantastic way to be alone with your dreams.
See the bigger picture
It’s not until we gift ourselves a moment of pause that we realize our life is like a painting.
At a glimpse, it looks like nothing more than a smear of paint. But when you take a step back to gain some perspective, it’s surprising what you find—a range of exciting colours, scenes, and endless possibilities for interpretation. The whole picture comes into focus.
How will you choose to interpret your own life going forward—what do you see in your painting?
Figuring out where we’re heading and what’s possible in the grand scheme of things requires that level of meditative calm and preparation. So the easiest thing you can do to prepare right now is (drumroll please)—nothing. Nothing but dream up the year you want to see in 2021.
Listen to “Turn Down the Volume” as part of my free Experience JOMO Masterclass to learn more tips and perspectives on ushering in more joy next year.
