How to enjoy the last weeks of this year with calmness?

Many people talk about how exhausted they are, we all seem to try to finish the current year and prepare as best as we can for the new year. And while we have these huge goals before Christmas, we want to prepare the “perfect celebration”. Let’s try a different approach: How to enjoy the last weeks of this year with calmness?

Around 45 BC, the Julian Calendar marked the organization in years of 365 days (and every four years – leap year – of 366 days). In 1582, the calendar was revised and updated by  Pope Gregory XIII and since then we organize ourselves according to the Gregorian calendar. Having a common organization is necessary for the world but somehow, the change from one to the next year seems to put a lot of pressure on everyone, professionally and personally. And the Christmas time – instead of being a time of calmness and gathering with loved ones – becomes a sprint 24/7 to finish off professional goals and plannings for 2025, to prepare Christmas celebrations, gifts and and plan dinners, and to think about all our extremely important “new years resolutions”. Why? Just because we decided that there is a cycle that ends on the 31st of December and a new cycle is going to begin on the 1st of January? Life continues. Everything will most likely still be there and the majority of the opportunities we have right now, we’re still going to have them, when the clock passes from 23.59 to 00.00 to 00.01. Let’s use this awareness to focus on slowing down:

1. Focus on the glimmers & practice gratitude
   What are you grateful for today? Who are you grateful for? It’s a short walk from gratitude to a feeling of happiness. There are so many little things in your life that are magical. It’s what today is called glimmers (vs. triggers). Being healthy and able to choose how to spend our day, having access to clean water and a place to sleep is something to be grateful for. The sun light in the morning, the fresh air, a hug of a loved person. Take time to focus on the special moments and glimmers in your life: https://littlehealthyhabits.com/why-to-reflect-and-practice-gratitude/
   
   
2. Eat mindfully, both during the celebrations and in between
   It’s the moment of the year where the majority plans celebrations and catch-ups with friends, family etc. It’s often a time where we eat a lot (way too much), don’t focus so much on a balanced nutrition (Christmas cookies don’t make it easy 🙂 and also move less, just because our routine is suddenly shaken up (more on this in point 3). It’s all OK, it’s a special time, I’m not saying this to make anyone feel bad. But let’s be aware of those changes, let’s be aware how we eat, feel and what our body needs. Let’s try to eat mindfully, slowly and see how certain meals make us feel. Our microbiome can change within 24 hours so the more sugar and grease we take in, the more our body wants of it. The good news are that it also works the same way around: If we focus on a balanced nutrition in between the “special lunches and dinners”, our body and mind will thank us for that. (For more details on microbes, microbiomes and mindful eating: https://littlehealthyhabits.com/eat-healthy-and-in-silence/.)
   
   
3. Create space for your wellbeing routine & keep moving
   The celebrations and gatherings might affect our sleep patterns (we get home and go to bed later), this affects our morning routine, it compromises our day and as we “love” to focus on our work tasks and the “important (productivity) To-Do’s” what usually stays behind is: Exactly, our sports routine. And there starts a vicious circle where everything affects everything: A not so healthy nutrition, less movement –> that affects our mood and sleep –> and that affects the next day again. And then we arrive at January and instead of feeling “recharged and ready” for the new year, the first New Years resolution is to get back into shape. Let’s not wait until January, let’s create time for our wellbeing routine right now. It’s key especially in these days. If you can’t go to your studio / gym or follow your usual sports program for whatever reason, at least: go for a walk daily, stretch your body and move a little bit in the morning and every few hours, dance in the bathroom, create a little movement program in the space you have (online there are so many free 10-15min easy sports sessions), etc.
   
   
4. Find some time for yourself & plan some things for January
   It can be a time where we are suddenly surrounded by people all the time, we get an invitation to parties, Christmas dinners and it seems we “need to see everyone at least one more time before Christmas”. Why? Life continues. Your friends, family, business contacts, clients etc. will probably still be in your life on the 1st of January and on the 15th etc. Why do you think you need to see EVERYONE before Christmas? It’s a beautiful idea to gather with people and please do as you feel but for some people I know it gets too much. So say no to some events or propose to plan some events in January. Why not distribute a bit between the months? Create some time for yourself within all the celebrations, a day, an evening or at least a few hours for you, to reflect, to breathe, to slow down. It’s so necessary and it helps us to recharge energy to enjoy the moment with our loved ones. More insights: https://littlehealthyhabits.com/how-to-spend-time-with-yourself-and-why/
   
   
5. Breathe deeply – Life continues
   Especially during the moments where you think you need to finish sooo many things before the change of the year: Breathe deeply, exhale longer than you inhale. Life continues. This is just a cycle that ends and a new cycle that begins and the more we connect to ourselves, the more we breathe, the more we take care of ourselves during this time, the better we will start into the new cycle of 2025.
   (If you want to read more on breathing, here is an article for you: https://littlehealthyhabits.com/how-to-breathe-correctly/)
   
   
   I really hope this article inspires you to enjoy these last days and weeks of the year, to slow down, to be grateful for everything you have in your life and you have already achieved this year. You’ve done your best in 2024 and you will keep doing your best in 2025 and the little things, and the special moments with our loved ones are far more important than to reach another goal or prepare the perfect celebration. I wish you a year-end full of calmness and gratitude.