Making a fresh start in 2021 will be hard unless we shake up our pandemic routines - The Dallas Morning News

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New Year’s Day is a common time for people to look back at their lives and to make a commitment to
resolving to live some aspect of life differently. But a fresh start in 2021 might be more challenging than in the past.

Changing behavior often requires adjusting the environment and the people we spend time with, but the pandemic, which is likely to be with us for some months, will make it hard to change those aspects. In addition, inspiration to do new things often requires coming into contact with new people and new ideas — something that the pandemic makes difficult.

There are things people can do despite this pandemic to make sure they accomplish their goals.

The first is to reevaluate our time. The anxiety and uncertainty of the pandemic have led people to engage in comforting behaviors. Early in the pandemic, that meant eating. Now, many people have settled into routines that involve a lot of distraction, such as binge-watching, doomscrolling or playing video games.

Time is precious. We need to ask ourselves: How much time are we spending on social media? How many television shows are we watching?

Chances are that a few hours a day could be reclaimed to do something that will expand our perspective. Extra time at home is also an opportunity to improve a skill, whether it is learning to play an instrument, engaging in artistic pursuits or picking up a hobby. The point is, we can do all that and still keep up with our favorite television show.

We also need to make sure we foster relationships with others. During the pandemic, many of our social relationships have become superficial. There aren’t many chances to visit with friends.

Calling a friend on the phone can also seem unappealing. For one thing, the volume of Zoom meetings can make anyone want to avoid talking when the work day is done. For another, it can be difficult to coordinate schedules with other people, particularly if they are dealing with family care responsibilities.

One thought: Consider going old-school. Make a list of friends. Then, write them each a letter. Fill them in on what you have been doing, what you’re thinking about, and what you remember about them. Not only will you brighten their day when they receive it, you may just find that your own mail deliveries contain something other than bills and junk.

But perhaps the most important thing to do is to disrupt the daily routine. The reason routines are so comforting is that people engage in them without thinking. The time of day and the environment remind us of the next thing to do. Changing that routine requires explicit intervention.

Simple changes are the best. For instance, buy a vegetable you haven’t eaten before and then look for a recipe that includes it. Swap music recommendations with a friend. Try a new exercise. Pick at least one thing each week to do differently. Over time, those little changes distinguish between the days and foster hope.

We are living through history. As endless as these days may seem right now, a few things can help for the new year, and someday, you’ll be glad that you captured how you felt during the pandemic of 2020.

Art Markman is executive director of the IC2 Institute and a professor of psychology human dimensions of organizations and marketing at the University of Texas at Austin. He is also the author of “Smart Change.”

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December 31, 2020 at 02:31PM
https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2020/12/31/making-a-fresh-start-in-2021-will-be-hard-unless-we-shake-up-our-pandemic-routines/

Making a fresh start in 2021 will be hard unless we shake up our pandemic routines - The Dallas Morning News

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