After the hectic rush of December, January seems long and difficult. It’s still dark, although the light is returning, and often cold and wet - here in the UK at least.

For many, this month brings feelings of failure too; maybe you made resolutions that have fallen by the wayside, or perhaps you enjoyed the sociable aspect of the festive season, which has gone with the return to work. Work can feel a slog - it’s harder to get motivated on dark mornings, especially if it’s also cold and wet. I wrote about workplace wellbeing in blog a while ago - you can find it here.

Workplace wellbeing in January

How can we help ourselves this month?

Take things slowly. There’s no need to rush, despite the perceived pressure from all around you.
Small steps. If you want to make changes in the new year, make them one small step at a time. When we set small, achievable goals, it’s more satisfying, and there’s an opportunity to feel pleased, and celebrate.
Choose what you say yes to. You know yourself, and it’s fine to be centred and truthful when responding to invitations or demands.
Rest well. It’s a normal human response, coming from our endocrine (hormonal) system, to rest in the darkness. I have even heard recently that there is evidence to suggest that humans once hibernated in the dark winter regions of the earth
Eat well. Nourish your body with fresh, seasonal foods. My fellow coach and retreat co-host Emma Skilton is running a sugar free challenge this week. Going sugar free is a chance to reset your gut biome, feel energised and well.
Get outside. I can’t stress enough how vital this is. Sunlight is essential for managing our body clock, and also for vitamin D production. There is nowhere near enough light inside our homes and offices, so going out into the daylight as much as possible will help enormously with your winter wellbeing. My SLEEP course has lots of information and tips on this topic
Connect with nature. The natural world has rhythms and cycles. Noticing these and recognising that things change, pass and grow can help us to accept our own rhythms and cycles, and learn to work with them and not against them
Practice gratitude. Notice what’s been good in your day or week, and consciously reconnect with the feelings of calm, happiness or achievement those things bring. When we nurture good feelings, we also recreate the chemical environment in our bodies that went along with those events or moments. I have a short course ‘WHAT’S BEEN GOOD’ to help you find ways to do this.
Come to a retreat. My retreats are designed to provide space and comfort where you can rest and reset. Time to think, wind down, get a fresh perspective. There is a mini retreat on 24/25th January, with a great value price of just £140. You can find out more via the link below.