Say Goodbye To 2020!

Here are some tips on making sense of the past 12 months so you can step into the new year in a good headspace

- Kim Arendse

THIS year can come to an end now – it’s a sentiment I’ve heard many people express over the past weeks. Everyone is looking forward to putting 2020 behind them and no wonder – it’s been a roller coaster of a year.

But while we’re all keen for the fresh start a new calendar year represents, the fact of the matter is that the particular challenges 2020 threw our way will not be over when January rolls around.

The world is a different place thanks to the coronavirus.

“No one was prepared for this new normal. It was sudden, confusing and frightening,” says Thembi Hama, a life coach from Johannesburg. “And it has highlighted the importance of continuously caring for our mental health, especially in the face of so much uncertainty.

“2020 forced us to take a long, hard look at our lives,” she adds. “It made us more aware of our surroundings and our relationships; how vulnerable we are; how things can change at any moment; how nothing is assured; and, most importantly, to be in tune with our feelings.”

The past 12 months have made people think about what really matters, says Colinda Linde, a clinical psychologist from Johannesburg. “It’s made people think about whether they want to keep living in the same way – fast-paced, possibly working too much, chasing a material lifestyle.”

As 2020 draws to a close and we take stock and try to make sense of the year that was, think about what you need to start off the new year in a good headspace.

Here are some lessons 2020 taught us that will help you enter 2021 with a strong mental toolkit.

DON’T RUSH YOUR GRIEF