Seven Challenges for 2020

New years are always a good time to forget the past and start with something new, like pursuing goals and adopting changes. As my favourite author C.S. Lewis said, “There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”

I wanted to share some ideas and challenges for you (and me!) to pursue in this new year. I’ve tried some of these in previous years, and they helped me. I hope you can also enjoy them.

1. Make a list of 50 things you were thankful for from the past year
Gratitude brings richness and fullness to life. Even if you feel down, there are things you can be thankful for –  good friends, parents or other relatives, quality time you spent with someone, and even opportunities you’ve had to easily learn from your mistakes. While you are making this list, try to be specific, and really appreciate each moment or thing. For example, write the name of a specific friend you are thankful for, or a specific moment you were thankful for. Bonus thing to do: let someone know they made your list and brighten the start of their new year.

2. Make a bucket list of “20 New Things to Try” for the new year
None of us know what life may bring us, so why wait for the future to try something new?

This can be learning something like 200 new words in Italian, or how to make your favourite Turkish dish. Other ideas are attending a musical, visiting a country you have never been to, or reading a different kind of book. One woman I recently met planned to give a bath to an elephant in a zoo; she was also trying improv theatre for the first time. If you’re stuck for ideas, I recommend Pinterest.

3. Take time to be by yourself, and make a list of things to do with yourself
Feeling alone and being alone are two different things. Feeling alone is sad; but being alone is not always a bad thing. You can even enjoy things more when you are by yourself. Make and save this list, and enjoy these special times. These can be something as simple as going to your local bazaar (My favourite ones are in Beşiktaş and Bostancı) by yourself, renting, riding a bike (you can easily use belediye bikes or private bike rentals in Caddebostan sahil, Belgrad Ormanı, Florya-Yeşilköy, Haliç-Balat, Kalamış, Büyükada…) attending a concert, signing up for a swimming class, writing a letter to a friend, or simply lighting a candle, turning on soft music and having a relaxing bath. Again, Pinterest might be a good source for that. I love Pinterest!

4. Pursue an exercise challenge
Even if you can’t go to the gym regularly, home-based, simple, regular exercises can help your body and mind improve. One of things I like about an exercise challenge is it always helps me to look forward to meeting and beating my daily goal. After a long day at work, going out running can be mood changer. Ideas include a 30-day easy squat, an ABS challenge, or a daily 10-minute yoga challenge.

5. Commit to your own “Waking Up Early Challenge”
This past year, I read the book Miracle Morning. I can say it was a life changing book. One of the biggest challenges in my life is to make time for myself. If you are not an early morning person, I strongly recommend reading that book and challenging yourself to wake up one hour earlier than you normally do to spend more time with yourself.

6. Give some things away.
Giving some things away can not only help de-clutter your life; it may also help you help someone in need. Sevgi Mağazası (in Kadıköy), Turkiye Yardım Sevenler Derneği, Kadın Koordinasyon Merkezi, Acil İhtiyaç Projesi Vakfı, Belediye Kumbaraları or LetGo and Sahibinden can be good platforms to give away your extra households or clothes.

This challenge helps your lifestyle, and it may even benefit you financially (because, in your commitment to giving things away, you may choose not to purchase something). I’ve only watched a couple episodes of Marie Kondo’s show, but really enjoyed it. You might watch her show or read her book, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo to get more tips.

7. Try a 21 or 30 day meditation challenge
The main reason for this challenge is to reduce stress from your life. Feeling connected to ourselves, and feeling calmer, can be big challenges. Through a friend’s recommendation, I tried, for 21 days, Deepak Chopra’s Meditation. Though life’s difficulties persisted, and I didn’t always maintain the peace I wanted, it helped me to control my thoughts and think differently during many challenges in life.

I hope you have a fantastic 2020 with new experiences!

I would like to conclude with a saying from author Neil Gaiman: “I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you’ll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you’ll make something that didn’t exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind.”