Credit: Mindful.org

The most important lessons from 2019.

As the year is coming to an end, it is only natural to see which moments brought us joy, and which ones we don’t want to see in 2020. When it comes to self-care and wellness, globally, they are the highlights of 2019, maybe even the whole decade. Here’s what we learned and why we need to turn this trend into a more permanent fixture in our lives.

Clean Space, Clear Mind

Marie Kondo made us rethink our living spaces at the very beginning of the year. It’s not just about keeping your place clean and clutter-free. The most important lesson we learned is to keep the things which bring us joy. So, yes, saying goodbye to presents from ex-loves was hard, but it opened the door for new beginnings.

Decluttering is one of the most important words of 2019. It’s not a new concept, but it did go mainstream, and we are doing our part to keep our homes tidy, fresh, and free of all the things we don’t need.

Mindfulness Everywhere

Being present is one of the best ways to reconnect with people, nature, places. Mindfulness allows you to appreciate your food, to be more involved in the conversion and to be more in touch with your feelings. We can dwell on the past or fear the future; it won’t change anything. You can choose to feel helpless over that or accept that there’s nothing more or less than this present moment.

Being present and mindful makes you more grateful. Learning to count your blessings, from the smell of fresh coffee to learning a new skill, will make you happier. It’s a long process, but we have the rest of our lives to become experts at being here and now.

Meditation Everyday

People used to be scared of meditating. But mindful meditation is nothing more than staying in the moment, counting your breath, and focusing on the present. It is similar to praying because you are learning to accept that you cannot change the world. But you can learn to understand your thoughts and emotions. You can learn to take things just as they are and find some peace within you.

With apps like Calm, or Youtube’s guided mindfulness meditations, all you need is 10-15 minutes per day to feel a little better. The world is such a busy and fast place that we all deserve that short break where the focus is only on you as an individual.

Mental Health Awareness 

The biggest and the most important thing that made 2019 such an important year is recognizing and talking about mental health. Though it’s long overdue, and we are still in the early stages, people are breaking the stigma on social media, and yes, it does help that celebrities joined this conversation. We are talking about bullying, anxiety, depression, but we aren’t skipping miscarriages, sexual assaults, addictions.

Sharing experiences and outcomes alone are not going to make us stronger. It is reminding us we are not alone, and we shouldn’t feel ashamed. The world needs everyday heroes, and in such a fast and overwhelming environment, we all share, mental health should be everyone’s top priority.