A Gentle Approach to January
The approach you didn’t know you needed to really flourish in the year ahead.
Gentle has been my approach to January for some years, and it serves me well.
Even though I feel the pull of the New Year resolution and ‘seize the day’ energy.
Much better to let the year unfurl naturally, like the leaves budding on the trees. If they come out now they will perish in the cold, and the tree itself will not flourish in the Spring.
We’re a little like that I think. How many of us have signed up for the gym or a fitness programme, gone all in for a couple of weeks and then injured or exhausted ourselves and given up!
Gentle doesn’t mean do nothing.
But it can mean just nudging ourselves forwards, not leaping.
Nudging is a great way to build habits for health, productivity and wellbeing.
Nudging your gut health by including more plants in your diet. Nudging your bone and heart health by adding in a little extra activity once a week.
Nudging your mental health by making plans to see friends, and taking a deep breath when the busy-ness rises.
My approach has some of these gentle nudges:
I take the day off when my teens go back to school. It means I’m not in a rush in the morning so can focus on them, and it also means I can re-focus on myself after a busy, social, festive season.
If I haven’t completed my review of the year just gone, I’ll do that rather than really get stuck into planning mode. It can help me put things to bed that I’ve struggled with, and celebrate whats gone well. It create a base to plan from.
I go back to my movement habits and classes, but I’m very easy on myself. I don’t swim/walk as far, i don’t lift as heavy. I’ll focus on form, and on the joy of movement, and how I feel during and after.
I batch cook easy meals that I know everyone likes. I’ll do the same for myself (as I don’t eat meat and I have food intolerances so sometimes it’s easier that way). I also use cooking as a meditation, or a moment of calm, before the term gets busier and busier and it becomes rushed. I’m a convert to Stockd blocks as well, as an easy, tasty option that the kids can do themselves with pasta, rice or potato.
I’ll go to bed early with a book (I’ve got a lovely stash from Christmas) and apply a facemask (also Christmas gift) for a nurturing end to the day.
I’ll journal, and meditate in the mornings, even if just for 5 minutes to give myself a clear head for the start to the day.
How might you gently nudge yourself forward this year?
Not sure where to start? Why not have a quick chat about whether I can help you get started as your health coach for the year ahead.