How to Mentally Reset in 2021

People came into the new year of 2021, with high hopes. 

They were hopeful about the news that multiple vaccines, developed in record time, would bring an end to the incredible disruption of every part of our lives. That was 'one' source of comfort. 
They were hopeful that we wouldn't be as divisive as we were in the last few years, when a major presidential race was on the horizon. 

2021 would be different. So said we all. 

But: vaccines have been slower to roll out than was expected.

There are still untold months until people will be able to see their families, let alone hug them, without masks being in the way. 

And of course, the political drama has only ramped up in early 2021, as the nation was shocked by an attack on the Capitol last week ....fueled by a mob of Trump supporters. Rioting endangered the lives of lawmakers and staffers on the hill, and left 5 people dead. 
Now we have House leaders gearing up for a repeat impeachment process that could take up mental bandwidth even beyond the president's remaining time in office. 

All this is happening while many families deal with the difficult prospect of a 'second' spring semester of remote learning; due to COVID-19 case counts remaining high. 

If anyone's 2021 resolution was to stop stress eating, or doom-scrolling twitter, they may be having a tough time of it so far. 

With all of this going on, how do we mentally reset for the new year, while also staying present in the middle of a pandemic, for ourselves and our families? This hour on The Sound of Ideas with Rick Jackson, we'll be asking psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour, who is the author of two New York Times best sellers "Untangled" and "Under Pressure." She also co-hosts the podcast "Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting." 

And later, we'll hear about an ICU nurse who is about to get her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Then, we'll meet the new leadership of the Cuyahoga County Council. 

-Lisa Damour, PhD, Psychologist, Author, New York Times and CBS News contributor
-Lynne Kokoczka, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Cleveland Clinic 
-Pernel Jones Jr., Cuyahoga County Council President 
-Cheryl Stephens, Cuyahoga County Council Vice President