For a healthier 2021!

Life Goes on, Let’s Live on

By Jasmyne

Hi there! I’m Jasmyne, I can’t believe that it’s already 2021, and the year 2020 went by so fast, in a blink of an eye. I think I’m pretty much just like any other young adult out there who thought that 2020 was the year for changes and more exploration, and sadly there really was a huge change in 2020, not just for me but for the whole world.

As we all know, Covid-19 affected everyone’s lives, many lost their job, companies, and schools were forced to close, and then we had to adjust ourselves to the “new norm” where we had to wear face masks, keep our physical distance from people and wash our hands on a daily and more frequent basis. Indeed 2020 was a tough year to get by, but we managed to pull ourselves through.

I don’t ask for much in 2021, I hope that things will get better with time and everyone can carry on with their lives like they used to. I hope that students will be able to attend school again and to be with their friends. I also hope that I can hang out with my friends in college like how I used to and to travel with my family during the holidays.

Let’s be honest, Covid-19 may or may not end any time sooner but know that the sun will always shine after the storm. Even if we have to get used to the new norm, we have to carry on with our lives daily. So, I’m going to end my 2021 wish list here with my favourite quote from my favourite K-pop group ‘BTS’: 

“Life Goes On, Let’s Live On”

New Year, New Me

By Joyce Lew

Happy New Year, peepo! Every one of us have been through a rough and tough year 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting, not only the economy of our country, but all individuals as well: students, operators, working adults, and many others.

People are getting retrenched from companies, and some are getting their pay cut, resulting in difficulties to sustain the commitments they are bearing.

In this new 2021, we are all still facing the pandemic, but there are individuals who have already started a whole new life by finding an income through alternative means, like starting their very own business and make profit out of it or adapting to the digitalization era of online classes and meetings. Although the goals set for 2020 may seem a little difficult to achieved, I’m sure there are new ways of approach that we can use to achieve them in this 2021. 

After getting through 2020, what I wish to accomplish in this year of 2021 may seem nothing big, but to me is one of the dreams that I ever want to achieve in my life: being a freelance magazine writer. Well, of course, it would definitely be tough, as it is not easy and definitely a challenge as I would need to build up my reputation and image in the society and market first, before companies would recognize my services!

Not only that, I would also need to possess good writing skills as well as having proficiency in English, as the common magazines content are mainly in English. I would also need to work with other writers in order to get more exposure and experience, which would be a little tricky, as working with other people always is!

Still, this will just encourage me to become who I want to be: a better version of myself! 

As what I would always say:

“Once you replaced negative thoughts, you’ll have positive results!”

Ringing in the new year

By Anis Nadhirah

Happy New Year, everyone! The day has arrived where we no longer have 2020 vision as we enter yet a new 12 month cycle filled with opportunities and obstacles. 

It’s 2021 and you obviously never thought this would be how you begin the new chapter in your life. Last year, we were bombarded with health & safety concerns that limited so much of our movements and tested our adaptability to the “New Normal”. But, hey! If you’re reading this then, congratulations because you managed to survive and that itself is an amazing achievement!

Let’s start off with some positivity as we talk about how we can make this year better than the last.

Between staying at home and going through the tough back-to-back online class (and not being able to enjoy a literal break), I’ll be honest in saying my mental health deteriorated like crazy. I would get exhaustingly anxious about the unknown and depressed to the point where nothing would get done that week.

So, I’m ringing in the new yeas with a goal to improve my mental health. How exactly? That’s the tough part. I know I can’t do it alone, so it will go hand in hand with my other goal of having a healthy social life.

Even if we can’t meet face to face, planning online movie nights, occasional lunch meets with proper SOPs and impromptu video calls to pour out our feelings is the best way to improve myself little by little.

Sure, you might lose some old-school human factors but, if you utilise your tech well, you can definitely brighten up your life even by a smidge. Sometimes that gentle reminder that “you’re not alone” is just the pick-up you need. And if I need more? Well, I for one am planning to actually seek help.

Whether it’s through finding a therapist or opening up better to my family and friends. You can join my journey by sharing your experiences or follow up on social media accounts that provide mental health education like The Depression Project on Instagram.

What are your aspirations for 2021 that you couldn’t achieve in 2020?