The most recent holiday season was one of the most challenging times of year for pretty much everyone I know – especially my colleagues and team members. Two of our Divisional Directors were out at the same time with Covid and related illnesses that affected not only them, but their entire families. Other team members also fell ill, a couple moved out of state and had related relocation issues, i.e. spotty wifi, landlord problems, you name it – we dealt with it.
Enter… the post holiday exhaustion. I was grateful to still be able to take my annual vacation to Aruba to restore amongst the palm trees, warmth, quiet time, and room service. I had started doing this a few years ago to help push my internal reset button.
But I know not everyone gets to do that. So here, I am sharing with you a few tips that I use post holidays *every year* whether I’m traveling or not to burst into the new year with as much positive momentum as I can muster.
Schedule all your big milestones and important appointments out over the year
One of the best ways to bounce back from the holidays is to start planning ahead. This means scheduling all of your big milestones and appointments out over the year.. We have an AMAZING new Self Care Planner soon available for you, which matches up with our favorite product, our Spark Quarterly Planner. These two planners cover your yearly, quarterly, monthly, and daily goals – both personal and business-wise. We’re also working on making them available digitally to use on your iPad!
Determine the habits you would like to create
Another key tip for bouncing back from the holidays is to determine the habits you would like to create this year. Whether it’s eating healthier, exercising more, spending more time with family and friends, or starting a new project, having a clear idea of the habits you want to create will make it easier to get started and stay on track. In the book Atomic Habits by James Clear, he talks about in order to create a habit, you need to form a new identity. You can start by asking yourself specific questions in order to ascertain what habits you need to form to create that identity. For example, if you have a goal to eat healthier, then ask yourself “what does a healthy person eat?” If you have a goal to incorporate meditation into your daily practice then ask yourself “what would a person who meditates do?” He also says that when beginning to build a new habit, chunk it down into small bits and make it so easy that you can’t not do it!
Create a morning routine
A morning routine is a fantastic way to set yourself up for success each day. This can include things like meditation, exercise, or journaling – any thing that is NOT checking emails. By starting your day with a routine, you’ll be more focused and motivated to tackle your goals.
I’ve had a morning routine for years and I love it. There is no doubt in my mind that my morning routine helped to propel me forward both personally and professionally. But last July, I took my first “4 week vacation”, or sabbatical, from my business. I used this time both to write my first book but also to ensure that my business can run without me for a full month. And it was wonderful – both for me and my business. However, because I had such a narrow focus of writing my book during this time, I got away from my morning routine. Afterall, I just needed to get up and write – that was my sole focus. And when I was basically finished with my first draft, and when back into the office to resume regular work stuff, it was much, much harder to get back into the swing of my previous morning routine. So challenging that I didn’t really even follow it and decided that maybe life/the universe was taking me in a different direction. I got away from my morning routine for the rest of the year.
And look, the world didn’t end. And I got some things done but I was definitely missing a sense of purpose, or maybe it’s more a “focused” purpose.
So, during my Aruba-reset, it more than dawned on me that one of the things I was missing during the last half of the year was a morning routine – was my morning routine. When I got back, it’s the first thing I put back in place in my life and I can tell you – I feel totally different. I feel intentional, purposeful, and unstoppable. That is how important a morning routine is if you want to seriously move the needle forward in your life.
Create a wind-down routine
Just as important as your morning routine is your wind-down routine. This can include things like reading, journaling, or listening to music or calming sounds like a crackling fireplace. By taking the time to relax and unwind each day, you’ll be better able to recharge your batteries and tackle the next day with renewed energy.
This is also a great time to look for “evidence”. When you’re building a new habit, a new identity, or just looking to reprogram some subconscious beliefs that you’ve identified and want to get rid of, looking for and citing evidence of the belief you want, is an integral part of this process. Kelly Ruta has an amazing program on reprogramming your subconscious beliefs that could be holding you back.
Say no to the things that aren’t contributing to your goals
The final tip for bouncing back from the holidays is to learn to say no to the things that aren’t contributing to your goals. This means saying no to social invitations that don’t align with your priorities, or turning down opportunities that don’t align with your values. By learning to say no to the things that don’t matter, you’ll be able to focus on the things that do.
Fortunately or unfortunately, I have no problem saying no. As a matter of fact, I probably say no more than I should. I learned this tactic a long time ago and have taken it to the nth degree. Every time you say yes or commit to something that takes your time and energy away from your focus, your goals, and your values, it’s almost like going in reverse – so it better be worth it.
Don’t let it happen to you! Stay strong, stay connected, find the positivity amidst the chaos and continue to shine your light into the world. Now is the time it is needed the most.
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Ending Notes
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