Can 2021 Be Your Year?

We’re all happy to see the back of 2020 – but no matter the hurdles, you can get life back on track in the coming 12 months

- Frances Leate

Well, 2020 was a dreadful year. We’ve bounced from press briefing to press briefing, living with uncertainty, isolation and fear, and we haven’t even been able to see friends and family for a hug.

But now, things are finally looking up. There are several COVID-19 vaccines available, with an immunisation programme in place, and it feels as though the world is finally getting a handle on this devastating pandemic.

So, whether you lost your job, had to pivot your business, piled on lockdown weight, missed loved ones, felt lonely, or split with your partner, it’s time to look to 2021.

Because it has to be better than 2020, right? Five experts tell us how to do it.

The dating expert

‘DON’T RUSH INTIMACY’

Siobhan Copland, founder of cupidinthecity.com, says: COVID-19 forced us to adapt to new ways of dating, but there are positives for singles looking for love. Previously, dating seemed a fast-paced environment, where people greedily consumed dates, yet 2020 made us slow down and take a good look at what matters most.

We’ve become more considerate and learnt to appreciate the simplicities of dating. We need to carry these changes into 2021, even when restrictions end.

Pub and restaurant closures meant people couldn’t drink too much, which has proven a better way to get to know someone. Continue having walks in the park or coffees on the go on those first meet-ups.

Taking your time getting to know someone from a distance means building stronger foundations. So keep dating carefully, considerately and intentionally, and we’ll likely see more long-lasting relationships being formed.

The life coach

‘A ROLLER COASTER’