Skip to content 
One thing we can certainly all agree on is that 2020 has been one challenging year! Many have lost loved ones, our businesses or jobs, and have been social distancing from family and friends. It has been a truly exhausting year. But at the end of the day we have proved to ourselves that we are strong, resilient, and willing to help each other. As we end this crazy year, let’s talk about some things we can do to plan ahead for 2021.
Establish New Goals
When we set our goals for 2020, the impact of a global pandemic and economic meltdown was never part of the equation. Surprise, here we are. COVID-19 has forced the world to change. We are spending more time at home with fewer distractions on our social calendar. This is the perfect time to plan some new short-term and long-term goals. For those who are currently out of work, preparing an updated resume and setting goals to connect with friends and business associates who may be sources for a new job are priority goals. Taking an online class to improve our resumes is beneficial to those who are still employed as well as those who are on the job hunt. Many women are working from home and have children who are doing virtual schooling. Their goals can involve finding ways to balance their time each day. New fitness goals are important as most gyms are closed and there are limits to outside efforts. However, fitness is extremely vital to keep us in shape and help remove some of the housebound and holiday pounds that have crept on. With spending more time at home being a reality for the foreseeable future, goals can involve adjusting space and removing clutter from our surroundings. A neater space can give us a fresh perspective and enable us to work more proficiently and think more clearly. The key is to adjust our focus to those things that are needed most, whether it is our family or our profession.
Budget Carefully
Going into this new year, it is even more important than ever to budget for ourselves and for our businesses for those who are owners. Money is tight! We need to prepare rough estimates of what we are spending and where we can cut back to make up for shortfalls and losses in 2020. Of course, budgets will change along with our priorities. Creating a plan for our budget in the months to come will help us have an idea of what we are spending, clarify our personal and business goals, and help keep us on track for 2021. Any budgets we set now may be subject to change. Who knows what new wrenches will occur in the early months of 2021. With any good budgeting plan, we need to know our financial situation, what we have to work with, and where we can cut costs.
Socialization
The importance of having friends and family around us is non-negotiable to ward off loneliness. But when we are unable to see them, we must plan ways to connect. Setting goals to reach out to people daily is ideal, whether it be by phone, text, FaceTime, or Zoom. If daily is not workable, then at least a few times per week. Conversation produces increased brain activity and allows us to relax.
We all know that the best plans can get derailed along the way. If we make the effort to plan ahead and stick to our goals, we will be better prepared to survive 2021 and be ready for better times to come.
Season’s greetings and congratulations for surviving 2020. We truly are powerful women.
