Some things to remember in 2020.

Hello all! I'm coming to you from 2020. Wait, it already is 2020? When did that happen? Well, I guess we're here now. New year, new decade. So let's try and keep a few things in mind for this new space of time.

1. Do not try and change overnight.

Yes, I know. New Year, New Me! We've seen it everywhere since we were old enough to read. And, to be honest, I see no problem with this notion. Of course, the tradition is to create a list of new year's resolutions and then slowly forget about them in the coming weeks. But I do think that trying to change for the better is healthy, and it's a positive approach to life. However, one thing I find completely unhelpful is the idea of trying to drastically change your life: your attitude, likes and dislikes, diet, daily routine, all in the space of a few days. Unfortunately, life, and human beings, don't usually work like that. You shouldn't spend all your time and energy on trying to completely transform yourself. It really is true what they say: slow and steady wins the race. Take it easy, you're not on a timer! In all likelihood, attempting to do everything at once will result in a total burnout, and you'll end up feeling as unmotivated as you did the year before. Take it step by step. Drink an extra bottle of water a day, not two litres. Try to read for thirty minutes, not two hours. Of course, you can build up to whatever goal you wish to achieve. But allow yourself to adapt! You're only human, after all. Do not try to treat yourself as anything else.

2. Don't be afraid.

I think that the beginning of a new decade can seem quite horrifying, if you look at it a certain way. It feels like the years prior have flown by as quickly as that car doing 20 miles over the limit last week. It seems unreal that we're at 2020; a year that always seemed so far away. But, at the core of it, it really is just another day, just another year. You're not a failure because you didn't reach your goal weight by 2020, or because you didn't get that promotion by the start of the new decade. Time truly is a construct in our human world. And, while it is a crucial factor in our lives, tomorrow's 10am is not more important than today's. You are still just as worthy as you were a month ago, and no clock face or cross on the calendar will change that.

3. Embrace it!

Like I said, just because it's a new decade doesn't necessarily mean that anything in your life has to change. If you're okay, if you're cool, so be it! But I do always think that, at any one moment, there is always an opportunity to remember who you are, where you are, and how you got here. Whether it's the middle of summer or the cusp of the new year, there is always time to appreciate everything going on around you. You're on this crazy planet, floating in the middle of nowhere, and you've got this funny pair of legs, and these gangly arms, with smaller arms attached at the end which we like to call fingers. It's all fantastic! Things really do get tough sometimes, and I think January is a particularly trying month when it comes to reconsidering your life choices and the impact they've had. But fear not, you're still breathing! Every morning, you wake up. And, though things may seem restrictive, they may seem dark, they may seem boring, there's always something else to do! Make yourself a milkshake or try a new pasta recipe. Take your dog on a different walking route. Write a Vocal article! It's surprising what little bursts of change can do to enrich your life.

If anything, just keep yourself going, and keep in mind that we're all in the same rocky boat, trying to remember where we put the oars. Things are alright. Really, they are.