Not feeling ready to tackle 2025? That’s perfectly okay.
Beneath our modern sophistication, humans are inherently primal beings. It is therefore completely natural to experience a dip in energy in the cold and dark winter months.
This is why January is a good time for reflection. We are naturally in tune with the ebb and flow of the seasons and our minds and bodies crave stillness, quiet, peace and tranquillity during this fallow time of year.
Just because the noise of social media is all about hitting the ground running at the beginning of a new year, doesn’t mean you have to go along with it!
In this blog, I explain why January is a good time for reflection along with some ideas to help you rest, reflect, repair, recharge, and reinvigorate, so you can forge ahead with new business plans in February.
Embrace the Calm: Reflect and Recharge in January
In the winter months, our energy levels are lower because of the cold weather and dark days.
However, you can use this fallow time to boost your wellbeing, ready for the busy year ahead.
Sleep, and more sleep!
Following the hectic festive season and the post-party slump as you take the decorations down, it is only natural to feel that you want to slow down.
Take advantage of the shorter days by establishing a new sleep routine, maybe going to bed a little earlier or taking more frequent rests during the day.
Have somewhere comfortable and cosy where you can relax and switch off from the daily grind, resting both mind and body.
Move your body
Although we should rest more during the winter, taking regular exercise can make us more productive when we do have to work.
It doesn’t have to involve a personal trainer or gym membership. A bracing walk in the chilly air will improve circulation, increase energy levels and release happy hormones.
A good walk in the countryside or park also connects us to nature. Its tranquillity during winter can imbue a sense of calm contemplation and aid deeper sleep.
Eat healthily
Following the excesses of December, it is important to nurture our bodies.
It is common to crave carbs and comfort food during colder months, as our systems tell us we need more energy.
However, nutrient-rich foods like root vegetables, leafy greens and grains are filling and comforting too, and they provide the nutrients our bodies need.
Additionally, consuming foods rich in vitamin D can help to combat the lack of sunlight, which affects mood and energy levels.
Reflection
This blog is about understanding why January is a good time for reflection.
Think of this month as a transition period between the old and the new year. Reflecting on achievements from last year will lift your mood.
Concentrate on the positives and what you learned from mistakes, rather than dwelling on them. If you find looking for positives difficult, try meditation, journaling or practising gratitude for all the good things in your life.
A positive attitude will help you to feel fulfilled and allow your thought processes to move forward.
Stay connected!
Human beings are social animals, and we can become isolated during the winter.
People go out less often, especially if they are cutting back on expenses following a large December spend!
Maintaining friendships, talking to family, engaging in group activities, even virtual meetings will help you to feel supported and less isolated.
Be creative
As we spend more time indoors, it can be difficult to muster the energy to tackle things.
However, it is a good time to be creative or learn a new skill. Crafting, cooking, learning a new language, indulging yourself by doing something ‘outside the box’, can give you energy, engage your mind, and offer a fresh perspective.
Avoid being overwhelmed
As we all know, being a business owner can be a 24/7 job, but as well as obtaining practical help with an online business manager from Spero Solutions, it is good to take stock from time to time.
It is easy to become overwhelmed by trying to do too much when you really don’t feel like it.
Set yourself smaller goals to create a sense of achievement and provide forward momentum. My blog ‘how to break tasks down’ can help you with this.
Be kind to yourself
Having suffered burnout myself (you can read more in my blog ‘Why a small business annual review is necessary’), I feel that it is important for business owners to take a breather, and this is why January is a good time for reflection.
Take yourself away from the noise of social media and an inbox full of emails encouraging you to rush into big projects.
Instead, use January for reflection and strategic thinking, creating plans for spring, when your energy levels are higher.
Mood and motivation can be low, so try not to get frustrated when you are less productive than usual.
It is perfectly natural not to take on as much as you would during warmer, brighter months when energy levels are higher.
January is a good time for reflection
We are in tune with nature, so slow down with it, rather than fight against it!
Shift your focus from being productive to reflect, rest, recharge, and replenish.
Your body and mind will thank you for building up mental and physical energy reserves for the challenges lying ahead.
For more on this subject, you may like to read the inspirational book by Katherine May called ‘Wintering’, in which she explores the ebb and flow of life and the power of rest and repair.
Although there is a lot of pressure on business owners to forge ahead in January, I do the exact opposite, giving myself the mental and physical space to repair and replenish.
I know I will have renewed purpose and the mental and physical energy to set this year’s SMART goals for Spero Solutions online business manager service, helping even more business owners to achieve the work/life balance they are striving for.
January is a good time for reflection, so why not join me in embracing nature’s slowdown to build our mental and physical reserves, ready for the hectic year ahead. When you are ready to put your plans for 2025 into action, contact Spero Solutions to discuss how an online business manager can help you to reach your business goals!