Ann thinks about how we can care for ourselves in January
January is the worst time of year for so many; Christmas is over, the trees and lights are down, and so is the brightness. We all think the New Year could be a promise of new beginnings, and yet we can at times still feel the dread, and often feel no different from the year before.
One thing I feel very passionate about is not setting unrealistic goals, or telling ourselves what we must achieve this year and if we do not achieve them then we will never change or become the best versions of ourselves.
Self-help books fly off the shelves and divorce lawyers get busy in January, all because we insist on telling ourselves that it’s a new year and a new start (hence dry January!), all dependent on that a new year focus. We often then find in February and March that we have lost the drive and motivation and yet again feel a sense of failure. Then as summer approaches, we can feel pressure to achieve a beach body, and off we go again.
So self-compassion is a must. We should tell ourselves that it's ok if we take a bite of chocolate whilst on new year diets, and it's ok if you miss a goal or two. It’s all about how we keep our motivation when we have a blip, as lots of us focus too much on what we haven’t done.
Let’s all try to look at what we are good at, and when our inner critic voice is loud, let's all acknowledge it’s there, but tell ourselves it's ok. Let's celebrate our successes and be kind to ourselves over the colder months - wrap up in a cosy blanket and enjoy a hot chocolate!
