Even though we knew a new calendar doesn’t fix anything, so many of us were looking forward to a fresh start.

The occupation of the U.S. Capitol showed us the error of our ways.

Are we really still only in January?

Just this month, we’ve watched video of armed protesters overtaking the U.S. Capitol, read about a new more contagious variant of the coronavirus spreading and seen former President Trump banned from his favored platform, Twitter.

I’ve observed many people, including some of my clients, lamenting that they feel distracted and unproductive. They sound like it’s a failing of their work ethic or professionalism.

May I simply offer: If you’re feeling overwhelmed, there is nothing wrong with you.

Be kind to yourself

I’ll spare you the recap of everything that’s happened in the last year. You know what you’ve had to deal with, and I’m willing to wager it’s a lot.

We’re aren’t meant to live separated from one another. We are pack animals. This ongoing separation makes everything else harder.

In the interest of making a difficult time a little easier, what can you do to be kind to yourself?

• Is there something that would make work or school from home a little easier? (I’m thinking it’s time for better back support. Have a favorite pillow? Let me know!)
• Do you have a favorite treat that makes you feel good? That could be food, music, a movie, even cozy warm socks that always make you feel a little better.
• Is there an ambition you’ve been guilting about not accomplishing that you can just take off your to-do list for now? You don’t have to give it up forever, but can you ease up on yourself temporarily?

If you’d like help making a plan to be kind to yourself, check out my course:

I think it’s more important than ever to create a clear vision for yourself, so you don’t lose sight of your needs and your values as you navigate challenges.

When you’re exhausted, when life requires more thought and effort than usual, you might not have a lot of juice for self improvement. You need to prioritize the most valuable changes for you and get clear about what will support you in following through.

This is not piling your to-do list with more and more tasks that just feel like stressful obligations. It’s choosing carefully what’s going to actually move the needle for you. Maybe that even means saying no more often.

It could definitely mean figuring out what you can do to be kind to yourself. Take better care of your health, nurture your relationships, make time for fun … you decide!