I don’t need to tell you that it’s been quite a year. The memes about 2020 are everywhere so there’s no need to repeat them here, but suffice it to say we’ve all been through a lot these past 12 months. As stressful and chaotic as this time has been, there are plenty of lessons to take from it—far more than in a “normal” year, even. From a personal growth perspective, those lessons can be powerful and long-lasting. 

You never know your own strength until it’s tested, and 2020 has been quite the test. From a pandemic that’s touched all of our lives to restructuring the very fundamentals of how we do our jobs, you haven’t had time to rest on your laurels this year. Now, as the calendar winds to a close and vaccines for Covid-19 are being approved and rolled out, it’s up to reflect on what you’ve learned this year and turn it into an asset going forward. Things may return to something resembling the way they were, but that shouldn’t mean you forget the hard-earned wisdom you gained from this most unique of years. With that in my mind, I want to take a moment to point out some of the characteristics you’ve demonstrated this year, even if you may not realize it. 

You’re more adaptable than you know

Raise your hand if you’re the type of person who would’ve said, “I could never work remotely,” if they were asked to in January. There’s absolutely no shame in having your hand up. For most of us, the option to work at home wasn’t even an important one because it was impossible to see a time when we’d have to. Well, now we know that time can and will come, and we’ve all made it through as best we can. That’s something to be proud of as well as a reminder that we can adapt our behaviors quickly in response to challenging circumstances.

Think of all the new tech you’ve learned this year. In January, Zoom was a niche platform; today, it’s a regular part of our lives. That’s just one small example of the huge shifts we’ve undergone this year. Sometimes, when change feels like a choice rather than a necessity, we’re less apt to believe we can deal with it. The next time you face sweeping change in any area of your life, look back to 2020 and know that you’ll be able to handle it.

You can make time for what matters

We tend to only reassess our schedules in the wake of a major life event. Our day-to-day routine changes when we graduate college or have children but not for much else. This year, we’ve all had to radically alter our calendars in response to circumstances completely out of our control. Having to do so may not have been your choice, but it’s a great chance to reassess how you go about your day. 

Many companies have experimented with four-day workweeks as a result of the pandemic. Others have adopted a permanent work-from-anywhere policy. While your place of work may not be experimenting with such radical changes, it’s still a great time to ask yourself what your ideal workday will look like. As the world gets back to its regimented ways, it’s important to ask yourself what parts of your pandemic routine are worth keeping. 

You’ve seen worse and you’ll make it through

I’m not a gambler, but I’m willing to bet we won’t experience another year like 2020 for a long time. Unless you’re old enough to have lived through World War II, nothing in our lifetimes has caused as much change in our day-to-day lives as the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s so important that you keep that point of reference in mind the next time you experience a layoff, miss out on a promotion, or encounter another professional setback. Whatever it is, it won’t compare to what you went through this year. 

With the lessons from a year like no other, you can propel yourself to great heights in 2021 and beyond. Nobody would’ve asked for this year, but it’s up to all of us to take as much as possible from it.