Christmas and the New Year have been and gone and if you're like me, you're not entirely sure how to feel about it. 

I look forward to Christmas all year long and really struggle when it's all over. I plan for it for months, putting pressure on myself to make it a ‘perfect’ Christmas – maybe even for the majority of the year and when it's all over I feel a bit lost...   

I can't be the only one, right? After all, Christmas is a very busy time for us all with visitors arriving, buying gifts, food preparation and so on and then, in the blink of an eye – it's over.  All of a sudden, it's January, the weather is bleak and everyone seems to be counting their pennies after the Christmas spends. It’s no wonder we feel low at this time of year. In fact, it's normal, there is even a day in January dedicated to these feelings. ‘Blue Monday’ encompasses these feelings and claims to be the most depressing day of the year.  

This year, I am trying not to give in to the January blues, or the pressures that seem to come along with it. Instead I am looking at January as an opportunity – not quite the whole ‘New Year, new me’ thing that lots of people take part in. More of a chance to get myself back into a routine. My normal routine with a couple of extra healthy habits thrown in i.e. to drink more water, to spend 5 minutes deep breathing daily. 

I think my main message in this blog is that after Christmas, January often comes with its own set of pressures, and often, it’s own set of triggers too. It doesn’t matter what others are doing, you don’t need to compete. Do what makes you feel good and do it at your own pace. Your pace is the right pace! 

Just one more thing to say.

Happy New Year everyone – Let's see what 2020 brings us!