21 Things You Can Do to Ease Into the New Year

Yes, this seems extreme when you haven’t been anywhere for a year.  However, it’s a great time to reassess your style, part with some underused pieces and ensure that your clothes all fit.  I’m not suggesting you Marie Kondo the thing, but let’s face it, if you’ve been working from home, chances are you haven’t worn many of the dress clothes you own.  Ensure you have some basics: a LBD, proper funeral and wedding attire, and a couple of good, seasonally appropriate outfits.

You will probably be amazed at the sheer number of wallets, purses, belts, and shoes you have, especially when they haven’t been taken for a spin in a year. This may be a Marie Kondo category--do you need 4 pairs of black flats or 5 red statement jewelry pieces?  Keeping things for the ‘what if’ is fine for wedding/funeral attire.  Make critical decisions and part with the things you haven’t worn in 2+ years.

You’d be surprised how much your child has physically grown during the lockdown and how their tastes have changed. You can do a lot with the old items too: donate uniforms to your local schools and good quality sports clothes or equipment to your local rec leagues. There are also online options for selling clothes.

This is the perfect time to purchase new bed linens, pillows, and towels. And remember to take your partner into consideration--while you may love a fluffy towel, your partner may ‘require’ a sturdy, rough towel.  Tip from hotels: Choose white.  I promise that you won’t be disappointed in investing in some high-end, white linens--especially since you use them daily. They’re by far the easiest to clean, the most comfortable, and you’ll feel pretty darn luxurious in your own home.

If you’re working from home, start casually dressing for it. By no means do you need to get into full office gear, but start working your way slowly from yoga pants and ratty t-shirts to nicer leggings and a colorful top. You will be amazed at how this will improve your mood and your posture.

During the lockdown, we’ve all fallen victim to being slightly unkempt. A manicure or fresh shave will help you work your way out of the doldrums of last year and lead you back into a healthy you.

You remember what it was like pre-pandemic--you had legions of lists. And I’m guessing that like most, that practice has gone away.  Writing things down helps twofold. It revives your muscle memory for letters and increases your capacity for engagement. As a writer, you would be amazed that I hate to journal.  However, I found that a one-line-a-day journal is working wonders for me to capture my day's activities. 

This one will be hard because it’s been our lifeline for almost a year. Instead of bingeing a show, watch one episode a night. Or, pick up a book from your local library and start a new habit of reading daily.  Most are open now with limited hours and strict guidelines. Find a new author, rediscover an old favorite, or pick up a new interest. Reading exercises your brain.

Unless you’re a fitness fanatic, chances are you’ve become more sedentary because of your confinement. You’re using a lot less steps and motions in your lockdown life than you were a year ago. If you’ve already made this jump, then congratulations.  For the rest of us, its time to make our phones count our steps or find our old Fitbits and set them to make us move hourly. Use that timer to increase your water consumption as well. You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel in a month. 

Yes, you will still need to be socially distanced and wear a mask, but many of us have forgotten the necessity of courtesy and patience in our delivery bubbles. Make a trip to the grocery store (inside, not just pickup) and marvel at the store reset while you get used to being in a crowd again. The bonus here is that no one will recognize you with a mask.

While many of us have worked from home, our pets have been more than happy to have our companionship full time. However, there will come a time as you head back out into the world when your furry friend will suffer the loss of your immediacy. If you crated during the day, its time to start easing back into those practices. It’s easy for our furbabies to feel sudden shifts in anxiety when you’re away. Start walking or leaving the house daily for short periods of time so they can see that you will come back.

Let’s face it, the most useless purchase last year was a daily planner. Thinking of getting organized for the year is scary now, especially when we’ve all learned that a year can be a daunting experience. Start small with a birthday calendar--I’ve found this to be one of the handiest things I’ve ever used. Place it in a spot you’ll see daily and stop relying on Facebook reminders to help you remember those who mean so much to you. 

Now is the perfect time for organization, and let’s be honest, you can’t possibly see what leftover is lurking in an old butter or cool whip container. If you’re looking to reduce your plastic consumption, it’s the perfect time to switch to glass. 

Most of us have been cooking more, but do you know the age of your spices?  Experts say spices are shelf-stable up to four years.  They lose potency over time.  An easy way to do this is to make a list of replacements and purchase one each grocery cycle and buy in small amounts. 

Most of us, at one time or another, have fallen victim to the newest cleaning fad.  How’s that working out for you? Get hip to what you actually use and get it organized. If you have items you haven’t used or can’t even remember buying, consider offering them free to a good home in your local Facebook neighborhood group. Make someone else’s day brighter and clean out your own.

Holding on to canned goods you know you’re never going to use?  Share with your local food pantry or shelter. Still storing your staples in the bags they come in from the store? Invest in an inexpensive set of airtight food storage. You can always see what you have and what needs to be purchased. 

No, really--this isn’t a metaphor. I know your remote control works now, but it won’t sometime in the future, and it will be at an inopportune time for you. Now is a great time to replace all the batteries--smoke detectors, media remotes, often-used toys,  and computer mice.  Make a list by device (see how we’re using lists again) and purchase enough to replace. 

If you’ve been stuck in the same old decorating rut for years, now’s the chance to change that. This year, we culled 4 large storage boxes from our 20+ years of Christmas decorations simply by cleaning out what we don’t use anymore. The same can be true for any holiday--Easter, Spring, Fall,  or Halloween. Think about your usage and what you really like and what you haven’t used in years. Recycle those items and let someone else experience your past joy.

Have you found yourself going to get a Band-Aid and all you have is the mini-knuckle ones that don’t work?  Its time to clean out your old first aid and replace it with items better suited for your family and lifestyle.  No one, and I mean no one, needs 12 ace bandages. You also don’t need multiple ½ empty tubes of Neosporin. Review your First Aid kits in your house, your car, your camping equipment, and anywhere else you have one. 

Go through every single medication, cough syrup, OTC pain relief, and any prescription medicine. For prescriptions, throw away anything over a year old that hasn’t been used. Do not give it to anyone else. Assess your OTC meds and ensure that they aren’t expired or gross. 

If there’s one thing we’ve learned during this time, it’s the importance of some staple goods. Without hoarding, ensure you have what’s right for your family in terms of paper goods, disinfectants, and cleaners. Perhaps you make a pandemic kit that has some cleaning wipes, Lysol, extra toilet paper, and paper towels. Also, think about the grocery items you missed: frozen vegetables, certain types of meat. When limitations are placed in our society, we panic.  Prepare for the next one, not by hoarding, but by ensuring you have a few things to get by for a few weeks.