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Was 2024 a tough year for you? Join the club. This year was… a lot. We’ve endured a divisive election season complete with assassination attempts, dropouts, bomb threats, and complicated results. Around the globe, coups, wars, bombings, and genocides tore apart families and countries. Natural disasters scarred the earth and disheveled our communities. Scandals forced us to reckon with the humanity (or lack thereof) in some of our most revered celebrities and entertainers. And we collectively mourned the passing of some of the planet’s brightest stars. That’s not to mention the personal losses, let downs, tears and terrors we’ve all had to endure in our personal lives.
It is past time to lay this year to rest. This is the time of the year when we collectively plan for the future. We make our goals, resolutions, vision boards, and promises to self that the year to come will be different than the year we’re leaving behind. It has to be different, because the year we’re leaving behind may not necessarily be one we want to repeat. As you’re saying good-bye to 2024, we have some tips that will help you mourn the year that was and move forward into what will hopefully be a brighter tomorrow.
Finding Meaning In The Mess
This year may not have gone how you expected but did you learn any important lessons? Did you unlearn any bad habits? Did you find a way to make your life or someone else’s life a little easier to get through? Did you feel inspired to do things a little differently next time around? Carry the lessons from 2024 into your new year. This sense of meaning can help create a sense of purpose for the future.
Practice Gratitude, Even In Small Ways
It’s tough to be grateful after a hard year, but research shows that even small acts of gratitude can help shift your mindset. Train your brain to notice positives amid the struggles of 2025 (because there will be struggles).
Set Intentions, Not Resolutions
While we’ve developed a habit of forming rigid resolutions at the start of the year, try setting gentle intentions for yourself instead. Set micro-goals that align with your values and dreams, breaking them down into manageable actions. Leave yourself room for creativity and flexibility and you may find your goals easier to reach.
Be Kind to Yourself
This past year may have challenged your sense of self worth. The year ahead is an opportunity for growth and improvement, not necessarily your time to fix your errors of the past. Cultivating self compassion can rebuild your inner strength to face the inevitable tough times ahead.
RELATED: 9 Self-Love Affirmations To Remind Yourself You’re Worthy
Reclaim Your Joy
Yes, 2024 may have been a rough one but that doesn’t mean the year was all doom and gloom. Did something happen this year that made you smile or filled your heart with hope? Reclaiming joy in these small, everyday moments can gradually help lift the spirits.
Find Safety in Your Support System
No one can (or should) get through this life alone. Grieve the past and move forward into the future by rebuilding or strengthening your support networks. Whether it’s through a close circle of friends, online communities, or joining support groups, connection can be a key to emotional recovery after a rough year. Make sure you’re connected with people who uplift you, not those who perpetuate negativity.
Focus on the Present Moment
This time of year, it’s easy to either dwell too much on the past or worry too much about the future. Practice mindfulness and stay grounded in the here and now. Take a break from stressing about what you should’ve done or what you will do. Each day will have worries of its own and tomorrow will take care of itself. Live the best life you can today.
Forgive Yourself (and Others)
Maybe your 2024 sucked because of something you did or some action you neglected to take. That’s okay. The grief, disappointment, and upheaval of this year may lead you to hold onto guilt or resentment. Instead, think about the power of forgiveness—not to condone hurt, but as a way to release the emotional burden. Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves, and it’s often more about inner peace than about other people’s (or our own) actions.
Give Yourself Permission to Be a Work In Progress
Growth doesn’t have a timeline and it’s okay to feel sad, lonely, frustrated, however you feel long after the ball drops on New Year’s Day. Don’t rush your healing process just because the calendar says it’s a new day. Every day is a new day to start again.
RELATED: Here’s Why You Need A Journaling Practice (And How To Get Started)
Let Go of the Past with Grace
Before moving forward, it’s crucial to honor the pain and challenges of the past year. Take some time to reflect on the difficulties they’ve faced, even if it’s uncomfortable. Journaling, creating a ritual of remembrance, talking things out with a friend or therapist can all help you process grief and disappointment as you mourn the year we’re leaving behind. Consider areas where you might need to release the past—whether it’s resentment, unhealed wounds, or unrealistic expectations for your 2024. Sometimes, in order to move forward, we have to let go of things, people, or situations that have caused us harm or held us back. Letting go isn’t about forgetting; it’s about making space for healing and growth.
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