Skip The New Year’s Resolutions? It’s OK To Feel Uninspired And Unmotivated Going Into 2021

“How do you spark joy in a joyless time?”

Someone asked me this recently. I had just joined an intimate business networking group and was sharing my current “lay of the land” which was: I’m exhausted, I’ve just recovered from COVID, I’m lonely, I miss hugs, it’s hard to find my usual spark.

That’s when the question about how I might take action to do something that would bring me joy came about. And the answer that came to mind was how much I wanted to get on a plane tomorrow, fly to Paris, and explore the city. Not the COVID version of Paris, but actual Paris — the way it used to be. “That’s what would bring me joy,” I thought to myself (and actually shared with the group).

But that’s a fantasy. And that can’t happen right now.

So, what else? What else would bring me joy?

2020 was a hard year for everyone. And it’s going to take some time for us to find what brings us joy and excitement again.

Sure, I’ve found some joy in my Zoom workout classes, or my hour-long phone calls with friends.