30 Day End of 2020 Challenge
Here is my 30 day challenge for December of 2020 for reducing anxiety and increasing peacefulness, calmness, relief, and overall happiness and gratitude. If it doesn't do any of those things, email me and I'll send you a gift card.
No alcohol for 30 days. (minus Christmas or Christmas Eve. it's not meant to be a punishment). Alcohol increases anxiety once it wears off, and can send you spiraling. Plus, your liver needs a break from time to time, so, why not?
No social media for 30 days. See my last post about social media and the ways it hampers your ability to see reality clearly, and feel your feelings without guilt or anxiety. Just try it! I've never done it either. Let's see how it goes!
Read two FICTION books. Notice how I said fiction? This is not a self help, become a better person type of request I'm making of people. This is supposed to make you happy & bring you joy. Indulge. So many smart people only think they should read nonfiction in their spare time to learn more, get better at business, finance, emotional mastery, etc etc. Relax. You've got plenty of time now. Slow down and lose yourself in a great novel. When's the last time you did that?
Volunteer once a week. Get what's referred to as the giver's glow. Did you know that helping other people can have a positive impact on not only your mental health but, as a result, help you live longer? Volunteer at a homeless shelter, work with the animals at the pound, visit senior citizens who haven't seen human beings in person in months. Just do something. Wear a mask and a face shield or get a test or whatever--if that's what it takes, do it!
Spread holiday cheer! No matter your religion or beliefs, December is a time of giving and spreading joy in our culture. Find ways to spread joy to others around you, whether it's writing nice cards for all your coworkers, sending your best friend a bottle of wine in the mail, purchasing Starbucks or small business gift cards for the custodians who work in your building, or donating items for care packages for the homeless or those without food this holiday season, find ways to give. The secret to living is giving, and trust me, this will be the best money you've spent this year.
Meditate daily. Even for five minutes in the morning and evening. This will help rewire your nervous system and clear your mind.
Journal daily. After inputting so much into your mind for so long, you need a place to get your feelings, thoughts, and energies OUT. Journal for 20 minutes in the morning or evening, whatever feels best for you. Talk about the good, the bad and the ugly. The uglier, the better actually. Once you acknowledge and release those feelings, they won't have power over you anymore.
Cook! Try to embrace cooking if you haven't previously, and if you have, make it a point to cook more. Cook for others, cook for yourself and/or meal prep. Use fresh, healthy ingredients like organic and grass fed meats and sea foods, nuts, fruit, vegetables, and greens. 🥬 The most important thing here is to figure out what excites and motivates you. For me, I found a great cookbook that interested me, as well as private cooking classes with a chef that taught international cooking cuisine. Use fresh ingredients but think of cooking more in the European way, using fresh ingredients but not feeling like you're "dieting" or restricting yourself in some way. Just making yourself and/or your partner or family high-quality, indulgent meals that nourish your body.
Make sure you have daily connection, and weekly deep connection. This one is huge. People are feeling isolated right now, so one of the biggest ways to keep our spirits up and anxiety at bay is to connect with others in a genuine, heartfelt way. It can be completely silly and superfluous, but it has to be there. If you aren't going into a job daily where you interact with coworkers, make sure you schedule a call with loved ones after work or invite a friend to walk your dog with you. At the end of the week, make sure you have something scheduled for the weekend, whether that's a walk outside with friends, hosting one or two people for a dinner, going out to grab a bite to eat with your partner and another couple, or having a picnic if the weather is nice where you are. Whatever it is, make sure you have it on your schedule so that you know you're going to have that warm feeling of seeing close friends very soon in the future.
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