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Life Kit's most-read stories of 2021

By Clare Marie Schneider

Published December 27, 2021 at 5:31 AM EST

Grid of the images from six of the top ten Life Kit stories from 2021

The end of the year is often a time of reflection — a time to take stock of the past and to look ahead to the exciting possibilities of the future. But this year ... well, it feels a little different.

Maybe you're just trying to get through the day. Maybe you want to move on from 2021, but you feel stuck in a holding pattern. Wherever you're at, we wanted to share the Life Kit stories that got you through a roller coaster of a year.

When we looked back at our top 10 stories from 2021, we noticed a few things: That we just might need a break — the 9 to 5 grind isn't working anymore and our focus is waning. But we also noticed that, even if we're still socially distant, we're craving connections — how to find them, nurture them and learn from them.

However you're feeling with this year coming to a close, here's to the best bits of 2021 and to a brighter 2022.

10. How to shake the feeling that you're an impostor

Illustration of a person with a theatrical mask covering their face surrounded by identical people who represent the self, taunting them and making them feel badly about themselves.

There is no magic cure for getting rid of feeling like an impostor, but there are some tools to help manage the feeling when it starts to rear its ugly head.

9. How to wake up early, even if you're not a morning person

Photo of a cup of coffee sitting on the counter in front of a window during the sunrise. The window appears to have rain on it and a set of keys sits next to the cup.

For some people, waking up early just feels natural. But if you're not naturally a morning person, how much room do you have to change your wake-up schedule? A few habits can help make waking up earlier less of a chore.

8. Too much focus is draining. Here's a better strategy

Photograph of a seafoam egg timer that is set to 20 minutes sitting on a stack of books in front of a backdrop of clouds on a blue sky.

Getting (and staying) focused can be a challenge in the best of times. But with everything going on in the world, concentrating can feel down-right impossible. Here are six tips to help you find your flow.

7. Procrastination is more than putting things off. Here's how to kick the habit

Illustration of a man at the office looking out the window and putting off the things he's supposed to be working on.

At the beginning of every year, we promise ourselves that we'll slay this beast. We make lists, buy journals, try new apps, but no matter what, we often wind up falling into the same cycle of delay and avoidance — putting things off, day after day. Here's how to combat procrastination however small the task.

6. You're apologizing all wrong. Here's how to say sorry the right way

Photograph of gold foil balloon letters that spell out the word "Sorry" against a light blue backdrop.

Most of us haven't been taught how to apologize, and our efforts tend to be deleterious: vague, intrusive, demanding, or full of caveats that can leave the recipient of an apology feeling even worse. Here are six ways to offer an apology that can help heal, rather than cause additional harm.