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| Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles via Freedigitalphotos.net |
“Just as a puppy can
be more of a challenge than a gift, so too can the holidays” – John Clayton
Come on…. I’m not the only one thankful this time of year
that the holidays are over. Admit it. This time of year can bring an
overabundance of too much cheer with holiday parties, socials, present
shopping, suffering with some relatives, and feeling like you just can’t do
enough. We find ourselves in a vortex of activity and anticipation. I liken the
time after the holidays to the sensation of feeling exhausted and experiencing
the joy of falling into a huge pillowed pile of soft white down blankets.
“Ahhhhhhh”.
Although I am a gardenaholic and love spending time outdoors
creating, digging, and fussing in my garden, there is a feeling of “phew” once
the season is over and my garden slowly falls asleep. I’m sure that many of us are
feeling that way right now. The big
event is over and we have time to relax and rebound before the next
“season”. There has been a hustle of activity
and sense of urgency and we just can’t take the time to sit back and enjoy the
season that we are in. It’s only afterwards that we exhale and realize what a ride
it has been.
This time of year gives me a chance to relax without the
worries of watering the garden, deadheading, throwing all my creativity into
the ground, and I can reflect. I have the time to look at what I have done this
past year in my garden and start to plan what next year will bring via UPS! The
garden catalogs are starting to flow into my mailbox and I’m getting eager to
start fresh and make changes the next season.
This is also the time for you to plan for the next season
before you set some 2016 goals that you may or may not keep. Before you can
plan for change you need to get the cobwebs out of your brain, relax your mind,
and open up your thinking. Now is the time to reflect on what brought you joy
last year and feel accomplished, may it be in your personal or professional
life. Only then can you set goals or look forward. Get the cobwebs out of your
head before you tackle new growth.
Sit down and say “Phew”
- Admit that you are glad the hustle and bustle is done. Don’t feel guilty. Society has brainwashed us all into feeling guilty if we aren’t all happy, giddy, and fulfilled this time of year.
- Purge both mentally and physically. It will make you feel better and like you are making progress. Even if it is symbolic you are one step closer to bringing in the new.
- Focus on you. Spoil yourself in a fashion that you normally don’t (no red sports cars now...)
- Try a new hobby for the month. It may open new ideas or doors next year.
- Read. Yes, pick up a physical book and just read.
- Disconnect at 6 pm every night from all your gadgets and social media. Try it even for 1 night. Then try going 2 nights. The world will not end without you. Facebook will be waiting for you.
- Watch some trash TV – within reason. Now, if this has been a habit of yours all year do the opposite – turn it off or discover new genres in shows.
- Take a sick day. Yep. Call in sick on a day that you will be the only one home. Enjoy the day without guilt and love it!
Once you decompress and let go, you can look forward to the New
Year and plan your growth. That’s what I do every year both in my personal and
professional life. It’s not easy for me to sit back and relax; in fact it’s a
struggle but I need to do it. It really helps to clear out the old to focus on
the new. Try it!