2020 is almost over. It’s been a year. The pandemic has ravaged and disrupted the planet. Calls for racial and social justice, which has always been present in our communities, have gained prominence. Our planet is still burning. Personally, my family is winding down the year with a burst waterpipe, some frazzled kiddos and parents, and I’m writing this piece sprawled out on the couch because of a very sore back. As with all of us, it’s taking some grit to make it through this year. For many reasons, I think that we are all looking for things to improve next year. There is a lot that we can do as individuals and communities to lead a fair and clean recovery. From personal to global, here are 21 ways to build a better normal in 2021.

Take care of yourself

My friend and colleague, Ilene, always reminds folks that to serve others we need to “put on the oxygen mask first” – folks who emerge from 2020 and lead positive change in 2021 will invest in themselves. How will you grow your mind, body, and soul in the year ahead?

1. Take perspective about life by accepting the tough things that can’t be changed and evaluating what could be worse, what makes you awesome, and what opportunities lay ahead.
2. Meditate every day for, like, at least five minutes and bring some peace and stillness to your life.
3. Commit to physical activity every day, even if it’s for 10 minutes and its from doing poorly formed dad-bod pushups; get a bit sweaty.
4. Eat more plants (and less meat) by getting some tasty takeout from places like Chickpea so that you can create a smaller carbon footprint and blend healthy living with all the protein you need, too.
5. Find energy wherever you can – books, friends, food, exercise – because enthusiasm is contagious and people with energy outperform everyone else.
6. Be present, which, if you’re like me, means locking your mobile device in a drawer when you finish work and committing to focus on one screen during meetings.
7. Ask for feedback because it not only helps you grow while also making people more comfortable receiving feedback.
8. Form good habits (and break bad ones) by recognizing what triggers bad habits (“I’m bored, so I shall now scroll and scroll and scroll”) and create some simple tactics for changing behaviour (“when I feel bored, I will take three deep breaths instead of doom/NBA scrolling”).
9. Invest in learning because education will inoculate you against disruption and the ability to learn will prepare you for whatever happens in 2021 (even for alien invasions or zombies).
10. Be a craftsperson and share what you’re really, really good at creating with the world.

Build a community

Communities – people who share a space, profession, craft, or some other connection – are an important unit of measurement for economies and societies. How will you invest in your community in the year ahead?

11. Stop counting with your partner who does more chores or carries more emotional labour and embrace “psychological flexibility”, which is one of the most important traits of everlasting couples.
12. Find a challenge partner, be it a friend, manager, or teammate, who will help you grow and improve by poking holes in your ideas and being a little bit disagreeable in an effort to keep you humble.
13. Find a cheerleader who can raise your spirits when things are low as well as help you stay in the flow when you are feeling it.
14. Connect with neighbours because when your waterpipe bursts on December 23 it will be your awesome neighbours who let you borrow theirs through the holidays for as long as you need it; also, neighbourhoods with high social connectivity are safer, healthier, and more fun.
15. Lead with love because when we love our work and love the people we’re working with good things happen.
16. Play every day and embrace the creativity, joy, and risk-tolerance that comes from games (especially ones with ridiculous kids).
17. Act against inequality by aspiring to be an ally of folks who are experiencing discrimination, which means making sacrifices and having tough conversations about white privilege.
18. Support black-owned organizations and causes because such things represent investments in black communities that create strength through locality and economic empowerment.
19. Support indigenous-owned organizations and causes because Economic Reconciliation “about bringing Indigenous voices, perspectives, ideas and people into spaces in which, maybe they weren’t always welcome.”

Take care of our planet

The hard truth is that human beings need to change how we live to rebalance our relationship with Earth. The interesting truth is that fewer than 100 companies are responsible for nearly 75% of global emissions. How will you vote with your feet and co-create a new economy that’s good for the planet?

20. Expect a climate emergency response that is similar or greater to the COVID-19 emergency response we are experiencing from most governments and organizations around the world.
21. Expect more as a citizen and consumer by evaluating how your financial institutions, municipalities, grocers, social platforms, and sport teams are living in the circular economy.