Nobody expected that we’d be starting a new year still reeling from a typhoon. Plans for some grand celebration fell by the wayside while we all struggled to deal with the aftermath, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate a new year starting in simpler ways.

Here are a few things you can do to kick off 2022 and hopefully manifest a better year than the last.

Start a New Hobby

With work (or school) slowly moving from the office into our own homes, it’s been harder and harder to know where the work should stop. Knowing the boundaries between work and home is something we should all work towards in this new year, for our well-being and mental health.

Picking up a new hobby can not only relieve your stress and help you get your mind off your mountainous backlog, it creates a time and space that’s solely for your leisure and enjoyment. Get into baking, or try out some art classes. It doesn’t matter whether it’s mindless movement, a sit-down pastime, or a focus-heavy activity– just being productive for things besides your job can get you out of your work rut.

Clean out your home

The weeks without power have made cleaning difficult, and without constant access to clean water—downright impossible. Nobody blames you for letting your house get slightly less presentable than you’d like.

Still, the start of a new year is a great time to do some inventory and clear out some space—get rid of some old clothes, knick-knacks you’ve been holding onto for too long, or things that are just of no use to you anymore.

You don’t have to go full Marie Kondo or anything. Start with some crowded shelves and junk drawers. It’s time to make some space for new and better things to come in this year.

Read more about some home organizing tips here.

Volunteer for a good cause

If there’s anything 2021 has taught us, it’s that we need each other more than we’d like to admit. After nearly two years of an alienating pandemic, the spirit of Bayanihan seemed to come alive in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette, with people helping each other out in any way they can.

This kind of compassion doesn’t have to be fleeting: commit to donating regularly to a cause that speaks to you, or volunteer for some organizations that are continuing to help Odette victims rebuild their homes and lives.

Stay Optimistic

I know, I know. There was a time when I would ask each new year to bring it on. Then a time where I asked it to be kind. Now, I can’t even say anything to 2022 out of sheer terror.

The past few years have only gotten tougher and tougher, so it only makes sense that many of us greet this one with some wariness. But we’ve been powering through each time and learning so much in the process. It’s important not to let yourself get carried away with all the bad, and remind yourself that one setback does not a ruined year make.

Practice gratitude. Check-in with yourself and loved ones every once in a while. Make time for things that you enjoy. You might not be able to control everything that happens to and around you this year, but you can help yourself stay in the best shape for it.

Check out Keeta’s self-care guide for a few more ways to show yourself some love and support in the face of 2022.