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new year often brings hope and anticipation. But as 2023 draws to a close, many feel a creeping sense of anxiety about 2024. It’s understandable. Between economic uncertainty, political tensions, climate change, and more, there seem to be storm clouds gathering on the horizon, resulting in a large number of people developing anxiety about the new year.
It’s normal to worry, but constant anxiety can be harmful to you. When fear about the future becomes overwhelming, it distracts us from living purposefully today. The key is balance. You will need to acknowledge the risks and challenges to come, while also cultivating resilience, wisdom, and inner peace to navigate them.
What’s with the anxiety about the new year?
Many factors contribute to the underlying sense of dread many have as 2024 approaches. The world faces deepening recession fears amid high inflation and rising interest rates. Many individuals struggle financially even now as job markets remain uncertain and wages fail to keep pace.
Geopolitically, the Israel vs Palestine war shows no signs of abating, while tensions between Ukraine and Russia still linger. Plus, the next US presidential election already provokes so much anxiety as citizens continue to voice out their fears about the future of the country.
Also, a mental health crisis feeds unease. Rising rates of depression, anxiety, suicide, and substance abuse, which have become worse in recent years, are yet to abate. Add to that the mass shootings that continue plaguing schools, extreme political divisions, and lack of national unity and you see why anxiety about the new year is rife in many countries.
Simply put, with ongoing financial problems, wars around the world, mental health issues, and a lack of unity at home, it makes sense why many people feel extremely worried about 2024. The question is, how can we stay strong, hopeful, and focused on doing good even when things seem so hard?
Check out 10 helpful ways to approach 2024 without anxiety and fear…
The future remains unwritten; no one can predict what 2024 will bring — good or bad. Rather than be paralyzed by anxiety about what may be, use these 10 tips to move forward with purpose, wisdom, and hope:
- Live in the present moment: Make the most of each moment without being weighed down by the past or future. Foster mindfulness through meditation, gratitude journaling, and immersing yourself in nature or spiritual practices.
- Cut down on news and social media, if need be: Stay generally informed but avoid obsession. Avoid doomscrolling from one toxic news to another. Set boundaries on how much news you digest.
- Focus on the things you can control
Redirect anxious energy into life areas within your influence – your job, self-care, your relationships with loved ones, health, dreams, and goals.
- Take care of your health: Doubledown on nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management. Our minds and bodies need extra care these days. Don’t ignore your health until it breaks down.
- Reduce the need to be perfect: Go easier on yourself and others, rejecting unrealistic standards that feed distress. Remember to choose progress over perfection.
- Be hopeful: Recognize that all generations face challenges, and ours is no different. In tough moments, feel free to draw inspiration from those who overcame turbulent times in history as this will feed your hope.
- Seek and give support
Combat isolation and doomsday thinking through human connections – family, friendships, and community groups.
- Clarify your priorities: Get clear on personal values and what matters most, should hardship occur. Prepare reasonably while staying true to your best self.
- Find inspiring role models: Seek wisdom from those modeling grace and perspective. The more anchored we are internally, the less buffeted we’ll be by external events.
- Take control of your life: Ultimately, the only life we control is our own. Doubledown on self-mastery and purposeful living day to day.
The year 2024 will surely bring unpredictable changes and events. But rather than be paralyzed by anxiety about the new year, we can ground ourselves in the present moment while taking reasonable steps to care for ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities in the days to come. With courage, hope, and moral purpose, we can navigate the times ahead.
Featured image: Srdjanns74/iStock
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