2016 Was a Literal Piece of Sh*t — Here's How to Move on and Make Next Year Better

This year was a steaming, heaping, all-consuming pile of garbage — this we know. We're all still reeling from a nightmarish election, global tragedies, and an overall feeling of apocalyptic doom that resulted from the onslaught of upsetting news throughout the entirety of 2016. So, how do we move on from this? How do we make sure that next year is the polar opposite of the one we've just had?

Whether you've dealt with personal upsets in 2016, or are still motion-sick from the bumpy ride the world as a whole took this year, there are ways to cope with difficult times in a productive way — and a new year is the best time to start over with a clean slate and try for something better. Here are some ways to cope with misfortunes and turn them into something positive.

If we spend all of our time dwelling on the nitty gritty details of all the bad things that have happened in the past, then we are wasting our energy. What's done is done, and picking apart difficulties you've faced will bring you down further. The key is to focus instead on what can be done about whatever it is we've been through.

Part of getting through something difficult is accepting how you feel about it, and in some ways, embracing those feelings. Pushing down sadness and anger doesn't make it disappear — it just allows it to fester deep down. Talk to someone about what you're feeling, write it down, vent to a friend. Letting it out feels a lot better than bottling it all up.

Don't lash out at others for something that's happened to you — that's just misplaced anger. Avoid blaming yourself for the problems you've experienced, and don't play the victim. Take responsibility for the part you played (if any) in your negative experience, and commit yourself to making the situation better rather than falling into a sense of hopelessness. Most importantly, don't give up — on yourself or on your ability to make things better in the future.

It's important to know that you're not alone. Somewhere out there (and probably not too FAR out there), someone understands what you're going through or what you've gone through, and a connection with that someone can be extremely helpful in coping.

It's nice (and a little scary) to know that at the end of the day, we are the ones who truly call the shots in our lives. Yes, outside forces can send us reeling when we least expect it, but it's important to remember that we ultimately make the decisions and have control over what happens to us and over what we do when something happens to us. While it's an undeniably daunting idea, it's also a pretty comforting one, because the ability to make our own choices is extremely reassuring.

Looking back on the past year, month, week, or day, pin point the instance (or instances) that were difficult or trying. By identifying the problem, we can do several things: we can make the issue or issues tangible, and therefore something we can address and conquer, and we can (and this is a biggie) map out a plan for avoiding the problem or problems in the future, because we now recognize them better. The best way to overcome something is to first understand it.

Whether from fear or pride (I'm definitely guilty of the latter), we often are hesitant to ask for help. But it can be a pleasant surprise to swallow that fear or pride and reach out when we really need it. Friends, families, experts, therapists — they can all do wonders in helping you cope with difficulties and find solutions to problems you may be at a loss for how to deal with.

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is actually a pretty valid cliché. You can always learn from your experiences, even (or especially) the bad ones. One way to cope is to find some semblance of meaning in whatever madness you've dealt with, and in doing this, you can embrace the lessons you've learned through the ordeal and come out wiser on the other end.

See this past year as an opportunity to grow. Focus on the future and make the next chapter better than the one before it. Plan out actionable ways to improve your life, whether it be a daily wellness plan, creating a to-do list with items you can cross off, or any other method of addressing past problems and actively trying to be happier and healthier in the future. Always move forward, never back.