5 achievable activities to help you kick off 2021 well

2020 was incredibly difficult, there’s no getting around that one. Although 2021 has not started on the most positive foot, there’s still that bit of renewed hope in our minds that a new year will mean a fresh start. This little spark of hope is what drives most of us to write that list of dreaded resolutions. Always well-intentioned, but mostly unrealistic when you start getting back into the swing of things: juggling work, kids and general life…

This year, why not give yourself a break? 2020 was hard enough. Let’s make 2021 the year of small wins. We’ve put together a list of 5 tips, hints and activities to help you get started, these are not just fun, but also realistic and achievable. Make this the year where time is no longer your enemy, and preparation is your new best friend.

Don’t forget you can spread the cost of a large range of appliances and furniture at fairforyou.co.uk to help you win back some time and energy to spend on these little achievements.

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Simple Home Workout

No equipment required and just 20 minutes needed for these easy-to-follow exercises.

Follow these simple steps at SELF.

Pro-tip: pencil in a couple of sessions each week while dinner’s in the oven – one of our favs is this sneaky veg filled mac ‘n cheese from Pure Wow. Best of all you can batch cook this one (see next tip for more batch cook recipes!)

Easy Big Batch Meals

Figuring out dinner for the week is a thing of the past with these simple big batch meals. Not just cost effective, but timesavers too!

Find recipes that suit you at Delish.

Extra-timesavers: look for ovens with self-cleaning technology or catalytic liners, explore using a chest freezer to increase storage and keep your meals fresher for longer, and invest in a dishwasher to make washing up a doddle.

Banana Oat Cookies

Healthy eating has never tasted so good! These banana oat cookies are easy to make and taste so yummy, even the kids can’t say no.

Follow the steps at One Ingredient Chef.

Pro-tip: have a few of these ready for post-schoolwork and post-workout snacks

Homemade Pillow Spray

From bath to bed, those long nights trying to drift off and get that well-earned rest are no longer a worry. Spritz your pillow before bed and you’ll find yourself drifting off in no time.

Find the instructions at A Beautiful Mess.

Extra-tip: Make your bedroom sleep-ready with a comfy bed and mattress. For more helpful tips to keep your sleep in tip-top-shape check out these helpful tips from the NHS.

Homemade Bath Pillow

Looking after our mental health often falls far down the list when life becomes hectic. Use 2021 to add some me-time into your schedule, starting with a relaxing bath.

Unwind with this super-easy homemade bath pillow at Mother Earth Living.

Pro-tip: no time for a bath or prefer a shower? Check out these relaxing DIY shower steamers at Rustic Escentuals.

Bonus activity: Short on time and don’t want to spend a single penny?

This one’s free and only needs 60 seconds. Help get yourself back into the present, feeling calmer and ready to tackle the day, with mindfulness.

Try a free one-minute meditation exercise from Headspace.

Resolutions don’t need to mean drastic changes that you are unlikely to achieve. Keep it simple, remove the pressure of big promises and enjoy yourself along the way! Small accomplishments can make a huge difference, so make yourself a promise to start this New Year well and most importantly, to have fun doing it.