Post the Christmas and New Year celebrations regardless of where we live in the world we get to this time of year and feel deflated.  Where ever we look media is saturated eat better,  dry January,  improve you exercise regime, New Year new you.  What was wrong with the old me?  I would like to remind you absolutely nothing.  All of this is done to sell magazines, sell products or services we never thought we needed until a shadow of a doubt is planted in our minds.  Taking advantage of the natural ebb and flow of life.  The high energy of Christmas and New Year is not sustainable take this time and opportunity to just be.  `Perhaps there are aspects of your life you would like to change but there is no rush.  

If your mind starts to trip you up with agitation, the ‘shoulds’, feelings of being not enough, or waking in the night distract yourself.

Here a 5 easy ways to do this.

1.  look at cute animals

If you live near and outdoor space take a walk in nature and look at the abundance of animals around you.  You can always look online at pictures on google, you tube or Pinterest.  I am loving these miniature ponies, which I understand they give away in the State.  In my mind I have created a whole animal farm.  Pigs, goats, bears - pretty much all animals are cute 😊 

2. Movement

I cannot recommend dancing enough.  It takes minutes easy to incorporate into your morning and it really does change how you walk out into the world.  So go on put on your favourite tune and go.  I am currently listening to God is a DJ by Faithless.

3. Wear your favourite thing

Often we put clothes to one side saying we will save them for ‘best’.  Why do we do that to ourselves?  If it’s worth getting up for it is worth getting dressed for.  Go on where the sequined top or your favourite coloured dress.  Perhaps you feel like your wardrobe lacks some pizazz.  Before you hit the shops check out these tips for falling back in love with your wardrobe 

4.Gratitude 

There is a great deal of talk about gratitude.  Naturally there is the polite way of being in terms of saying please and thank you.  Alongside of this you can write down the things you are grateful for.  Another effective way to feel and express gratitude is to send someone a message, voice note or call them and say thank you for being my friend, partner a great support in life.  A boost of joy from both sides.

5. Give yourself a break

When was the last time you gave yourself a break?  I am not talking about a holiday but actually gave yourself permission to sit down for even 10 minutes at stare out the window, take a deep breath or 10, sip a cup of tea.  Go on push the boat out, give yourself half an hour or half a day.  There is something to be said about the value of rest – the negative to ‘doing’ which is just as valuable as the doing itself. Just as gym trainers advice us of the importance of having regular rest between vigorous work-out sessions, as a teacher I can vouch for that, yes dynamic pilates is a great hit work out but on the flip side a yin yoga class has far reaching benefits.  We need to give ourselves that same mental stillness between all the things we do each day and each week. 

This Lao Tzu quote say’s it so well.

‘Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing’

If you would like more why not try A Dose of Joy.  A mini course to help you beat the blues.