Happy New Year, and welcome to 2023! I love the start of a new year; reflecting on the past 12 months and setting goals for the next. What’s typically been a time of self-reflection has, in the last few years, become much more public thanks to the proliferation of social media. Yes, I’m talking about all those end-of-year summaries. Do you find them overwhelming, too? You’re not alone…

Shout from the rooftops

On the days surrounding 1^st January, social media timelines are filled with the highlight reels of peoples’ year, as they display (let’s not say “boast”) photos, videos and written rundowns of their year which has inevitably been the best year ever.

I love this trend – seeing and reading what people have been up to. I think it’s a great way to share your favourite and most memorable moments with friends and family. It’s celebrating your wins, no matter how small, and immortalising them, too. I love the idea that when I’m fifty, I’ll be able to look back at my end-of-year social media posts from my twenties (perhaps even with my own children) and reminisce the times I may otherwise have forgotten.

Of course, you can love something but still see danger in it.

Beware the social media highlight reel

It’s been said a million times, but it’s worth repeating (because we all forget to remember): social media shows a highlight reel of people’s lives.

It’s so easy to look at these year-in-summary posts and compare yourself and your life to others’. It can be difficult to see all the achievements, celebrations and holidays people have had and not feel jealousy or inadequacy. Perhaps you feel they outshine your own accomplishments, in scale or quantity. Or maybe they remind you of something you didn’t achieve this last year, despite your hard work, because you underestimated something, prioritised something else, or because life threw you a curve ball (it has a nasty habit of doing that).

I know it’s difficult to remember that someone else’s accomplishments don’t take away from your own. Your achievements from the last 12 months were enough – no matter how small or in whichever way they manifested.

Try to remember, too – for every celebration posted online, there was likely a failure or a hardship not advertised. People don’t showcase their struggles: arguments; losses; job uncertainty; the months they struggled to make ends meet. But that’s not to say that they didn’t have hard moments, just like you: just because they accomplished X, doesn’t mean it came easy. Remember that everyone has different priorities and that’s okay – wouldn’t life be boring if we were all the same?

Some years are filled with parties and holidays and some years are filled with trying to figure out life, get your head down and plough through. Try not to compare your struggles with someone else’s accomplishments – everyone experiences ups and downs, but they only publish the ups. So, take these posts with a pinch of salt.

Protect your peace

We must acknowledge that not everyone will have had a great year. For some, the last year may be one they’re glad to see the back of. Even if you had an unoffensive, but unremarkable year, it’s easy to fall victim to jealousy and comparison.

If it’s too hard and painful to see these overly positive posts, mute them. Turn social media off for a week or until enough time has passed. Give yourself grace and the space to heal.

Try to remember the good moments of your year – I hope that even in the worst of times, there was some kindness or happiness to be remembered. But if not, don’t worry: we’re in a new year which is open to all kinds of possibilities. Protect your peace and prepare for new beginnings and a clean slate.

My 2022

Last year was a whirlwind for me: we experienced a big loss in the family, and multiple illnesses; and my husband and I both had several huge shifts in work and career.

It’s been a head-down, power-through year for us.

A lot has happened, yet it feels I don’t have much to show for it. That’s not true, of course: it was a significant year in my life. These days, we’re so used to having photos represent our memories. We long for shareable moments: if we don’t share a picture, did it really happen? I love looking back on photos, but I worry that our reliance on capturing every moment through a lens or social media platform detracts from our ability to live in the moment and really treasure our time.

I have a lot of significant memories from this last year – it’s a year I’ll remember forever – they just weren’t photographable moments that I can (or would even want to) post online.

We must recognise that a difference exists, accept that it’s okay (a natural part of life) and then move on as best we can.

Here’s to a successful, peaceful 2023 that, above all else, is filled with happiness.

While we’re on the subject of the new year, have you thought about your resolutions yet? Check out my last post where I discuss the resolution I think we should all be working towards this year.

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