5 Lessons in 2020 We Can Take Into 2021… and Should

We can all agree that 2020 wasn’t the year we expected. It started with such high hopes and goals in all aspects of life. I reflect on some of the business and personal goals I set for the year. 2020 was supposed to be the year.

Then Covid-19 hit. Division amongst people began to become more prominent. Isolation became the norm.

How often did you say, “I can’t wait for this year to be over,” “let’s forget this year happened and start over in 2021.” I know I’ve said it once or twice (or over and over again) since everything went crazy in March. I want to raise a point that maybe could shift that mindset like it did mine.

As shitty as 2020 was, there are some valuable lessons we can take with us into 2021.

Did that just blow your mind? Okay, maybe not to that extent, but did it at least make you think for a moment (if you haven’t, now’s a good time to read our New Years’ post from last year, “Can We Stop Saying New Year, New You?”)?

Instead of forgetting about the past year, let’s reflect on everything that went on so we can grow in 2021.

Your Mental Health Matters

Is it safe to say that attention around mental health has never been more prominent than during the pandemic? As someone who worked hard through mental illnesses, it’s refreshing to see how many people are finally openly talking about it as it should be – an illness.

Your mental health matters. It’s just as important as your physical health, and it’s time we start acknowledging that. We go on walks to improve our cardiovascular health, go to the doctor when we feel ill, or get x-rays when you sprain our ankle because you thought it could be broken (hurt, so much).

The point is – we have no problem asking for help when there’s something physically wrong; why is it so hard to get help for when our brains are sick?

As we move into 2021, let’s not forget all the attention we put on mental health this past year.

Standing Up For What You Believe Has Its Downfalls

There have been several moments in 2020 where we’ve seen great division amongst us. You have the mask debate (which oddly gets very heated), to shut a province down or risk viral exposure, but most importantly, the Black Lives Matter movement we saw in the United States in the summer (an ongoing and essential action).

Now, don’t get me wrong; standing up for what you believe in is essential. I don’t think you should compromise your values to fit in, have someone like you, or for any other reason. However, it can come at a cost, and we’ve seen it.

I’m not going to dive too deep into this because it’s a touchy subject. Just ask yourself, is this value worth the potential repercussions that could occur? Also, is this truly a value, or simply a luxury in disguise? Worth thinking about.

Please, Don’t Believe Everything You Read

Okay, it’s 2021, and I can’t believe I made this a headline, but it needs to be. Just because it’s on the internet, that doesn’t make it factual information.

There have been mounds of misinformation bombarding Facebook feeds that are taken as legitimate facts. From how many people are getting sick to the vaccine being used as a controlling mechanism by the government, we’ve pretty much seen it all.

False information being taken seriously can cause serious harm. Do the research through legitimate sources by the trained professionals. Make informed decisions.

Flexibility Is Crucial (and Not Just Physical Flexibility)

I’ve talked about flexibility on this blog before and how it’s vital to stretch, especially when we’re spending more time sitting than being active.

The type of flexibility we’re talking about, though, is when you get thrown a curveball. Being flexible in life allows you to adapt to the ups and downs of everyday life, but it also can help you manage more challenging times.

For example, during our first shutdown, Aura Studio created a YouTube channel to provide free workouts to our clients and anyone else that wanted to tune in. In our second lockdown, we adapted, even more, creating our online membership program. Accepting what was happening and learning to adjust to the current situation allowed us to continue with the business.

The point being – flexibility in life can make things much easier for you down the road.

The Sun Shines After It Storms

This is a big one – when everything feels like it’s crashing down around you, eventually, light pokes through that pulls you out.

During hardships, those are our moments to learn and grow. That is basically the purpose behind this entire post. 2020 was a massive storm that clouded us in so many ways. It will eventually pass, though.

As much as we may want to, don’t forget about the storm. Instead, look at it from the perspective that you were strong enough to fight your way through it. You made it out.

Do you have certain experiences from 2020 that you’re taking into 2021 with you?