Winter is the time of year when the energies of nature slow down – trees shed their leaves to conserve energy and animals prepare for hibernation. But we as humans have such busy lives that it seems we’re on the go, non-stop, whatever season it is!

With Christmas coming and the year drawing to a close, it is a good opportunity to pause and take rest. However, we may find that after our usual activities are put on hold for a week or two, it can be hard to get started up again when ‘normal life’ resumes in the New Year.

Remind yourself why you started

If you started a course in September, you may find you are losing interest or drive. If this is the case, remind yourself why you started the course in the first place; remember the aspects that inspired your enthusiasm in the beginning and consider your long-term goals – what you want to get out of it. Also, doing a course is not just about learning the subject; it also teaches you skills such as problem-solving and perseverance – which can be useful in any area of life.

Alternatively, you may be looking forward to a ‘fresh start’ in the New Year, which could include starting a course or seeking new employment. When Christmas is out of the way, the New Year is a good time to set in motion things you want to achieve over the upcoming 12 months ahead.

Instead of setting New Year’s Resolutions, maybe set goals around personal or professional development, with a view to doing some training in order to increase your skillset, enhance your abilities in a certain area, or perhaps to start your own business.

In terms of working life, you may find it an effort to get up on time in the mornings if you’ve been enjoying lie-ins over the festive break. To make it a bit easier, aim to get up a little bit earlier each day on the few days before you have to go back to work, so that it’s not such a shock to the system.

Focus on the positive aspects of your job

If you’re not much looking forward to going back to work, focus on the positive aspects of your job – these may include being part of a team, or chatting with your colleagues, getting back into a routine and regaining structure to your days, or having a reason to get out of the house and away from family if you’ve been under each other’s feet too much over the holidays!

It’s good to take a break over the festive period so that we can then be ready to emerge into the New Year and increase our activities once more as the energies rise towards spring! Happy Holidays!