New year resolutions are not really my thing. They feel too restrictive for me. Instead, I try to bring in new habits as and when I feel like I am ready for them. This year, I have made a list of 12 practices that I would love to make a part of my 2020 vision board. These are habits that I know will add value to my life at this point. I consider this as a kind of blueprint, which I am sure will evolve over the course of the next 12 months.
As the years pass by, I find myself wanting more simplicity in my life. Maybe that’s what it means to be an adult, who knows. My idea of a perfect day is one where I get to do things just because I want to and not with the caveat that I have to.
But here’s the thing. This is more like a fantasy than a remote possibility. Sure, there are times when I can indulge in activities because I feel like doing them. But most of the time, I have certain compulsions behind my actions. And that is how it is for the majority of us. And in a world that is always demanding us to stay busy, how do we actually slow down and yet live a meaningful life?
12 Practices for the 2020 Vision Board
I started making a vision board for my year’s goals only last year. And it was an excellent way to keep a track of how I was doing with each passing day. I felt that having a detailed vision board helped me to hold myself accountable and that is why I will make one this year as well.
There were certain concrete steps that I took in 2019 towards achieving this- practices that I intend to keep on following because they were immensely helpful. Then there are a few other habits that I want to inculcate in my daily life. Combining everything, I now have 12 practices for 2020 that will help me to continue on my journey of simple living.
1. Limit social media
This is a topic that has been discussed far too often. In today’s era of constant digital connectivity, social media plays an important role in dictating our lives. While I have never been one to post actively on the various sites, I am guilty of mindless scrolling.
Sometime in the middle of 2019, I had the realization that I was spending way too much time and energy looking at my Instagram and Facebook feeds than what is healthy. Over the last 6 months, I have tried to be mindful of my social media consumption. And I plan to continue this practice into the next year as well. While some folks uninstall all apps so as to remove any temptation whatsoever, I try to not go to that extreme. I want the habit to refrain from social media to be a more natural one. Hence, I depend on good old self-control and that has worked quite well this far.
2. Stretch every day for 15 minutes
Health is wealth. There is no question about that. But exercising every day diligently can be challenging. I prefer forming habits that are easy to kee pup with. Stretching is one such thing. When I started visiting the gym in 2019, I had to make stretching a part of my routine. Along the way, going to the gym became irregular but the stretching remained. And that is because it feels oh so good.
So for 2020, I want to make it one of the 12 practices of my life. Just put on some calming meditation music and stretch away fro 15 minutes daily.
3. Buy what I need
This is by no means a new thing in my life. For a long time actually, I have been following this caveat of not buying things without a necessity. So far, it has worked really well and I plan on continuing this for the next year as well. While I am not as much of a minimalist as I would like to be, I am definitely in a place where I do not have to worry about being wasteful.
4. Simplified wardrobe
The idea of a capsule wardrobe intrigues me very much but I do not think I have it in me to follow one. Nevertheless, I believe that having a simplified closet is an effective step into simple living. Now, this is not really for people who revel in the luxury of having a bunch of clothes. Rather, if you are someone who wants to look good but does not want to worry too much about what to wear every day, then probably you can give this a try.
There are no rules as to how to have a simplified wardrobe, you do you for this to be successful. For example, I always buy clothes that can be mixed and matched so that I do not need a ton of them. I also own single items of each type- one pair of blue jeans, one warm coat, one pair of boots, etc. This not only takes up less space but also makes it easy to dress up for most occasions.
For 2020, one of the focal points of my vision board will be being sustainable when it comes to my sartorial choices. This means I will buy things I really need, shop secondhand and look for ethical indie brands even if that comes at a higher price. The damage to our world from fast fashion is too much to bear in my opinion and I want to do my part in helping- however small that may be.
5. Meal planning
Much has been said about the awesome benefits of meal planning. As someone who cooks almost every day, I tried out meal planning very briefly in 2019. Getting used to it takes some time, but once you find your rhythm, it is definitely a handy practice to make your life a tad bit easier. Moreover, it also makes eating a healthy and balanced diet possible.
6. Gratitude
Nowadays, everyone seems to talk about gratitude. But it is not a new practice in any way. Since time immemorial, people have been offering their gratitude- be it in the form of prayers or service to the world in general.
What most of us do not realize is that we already have so much in our lives to be thankful for. And so, in 2020, I want to make it a priority to say thank you to the universe for all the good that I have; especially the wonderful people in my tribe who inspire and support me every day.
7. Say no sometimes
As the years pass by, I am learning the importance of taking a step back in certain circumstances, especially for the sake of my mental health. Saying no is sometimes necessary and the right thing to do. And with the goal of practicing slow living, it is very important to know when to refrain from prostrating oneself for the sake of others. This also plays a major role in mental health, which is my next practice to inculcate.
8. Focus on mental health
What can I write about mental health that hasn’t already been told or discussed for umpteen times already?
So, my only point here is that mental health must be a priority for each one of us and we must take action toward that direction. I hope this topic makes way into your 2020 vision board as well.
9. Stop listening to others all the time
In one of my previous articles, I had written elaborately on this topic. And 2020 is the time to implement this practice. Far too often in our lives, we get bogged down with advice from others. While people do believe that they are speaking with our best interests in their minds; the truth is it is only us who can decide what we want. Life is too short to live by others’ rules anyway.
So go ahead and listen to your heart this year and see how things fall into place.
10. Reduce mental piling
If you are as anxious as I am, you might find thoughts piling up quickly in your head. It is not an easy burden to bear and ultimately can cause real health issues. Hence, in 2020, one of the 12 practices that I definitely want to incorporate in my life is the habit of not letting thoughts pile up. There will always be things to worry about, but I hope that I will be consciously able to manage them in a constructive manner.
11. Make time for aesthetics
As an artist, I live for the beauty of things around me. For a long time, I used to think that enjoying this beauty was secondary to so many other demands of my life, mainly my corporate career. But looking back, I find that I was not happy with that. By taking the time to appreciate the pretty little flower or the line of intricate architecture, I can make my day brighter.
So, for this new year, making time for the little nice things in life is one of my topmost priorities.
12. No more guilt
And finally on the list of 12 practices for 2020- no more feeling guilty of little things. This is an era of hyper achieving and if we ever feel that we are not keeping up, it amounts to a misplaced sense of guilt. But here’s the thing, our lives are not comparable and the social media pictures do not tell the truth always.
So in 2020, remember to take a step back and give yourself credit for all that you are doing. And whenever you feel that twinge of guilt creeping up, introspect and see whether it is even justified or not. After all, life is too precious to feel bad about unnecessary things.
“The best kind of happiness is a habit you’re passionate about.”
Shannon L. Alder
Happiness is a result of so many things in our lives. It is not the destination but lies in the journey itself. Through these 12 practices, I hope to live a simple life of happiness. And for this new year and the new decade, I wish the same for you. May we all find our paths lines with happiness while building the lives of our dreams. Also, don’t forget to create your vision board for this year and fill it with things you have always wanted to do.
Happy New Year!
And Peace.
Do you have any related experience or story to tell? Please share in the comments below. I would love to hear from you.
