Preparing for a Wellness Reset

Happy last Sunday of 2023! We made it. We are on the precipice of “new year, new me.”

I don’t know about you, but this winter and holiday season has been emotionally, mentally, and otherwise challenging.

I’ve spoken with some people this week and they are breathing a sigh of relief that this holiday season is finally coming to an end.

I started recording a video on my phone the other day talking about a wellness reset. From the start of November, we get caught up in a season of expectation and preparation. Finding and making plans, buying gifts, finding money for all these things, reconnecting with folks, and the list goes on. I started talking about how easy it is to start feeling burnt out. It’s a season that comes once a year, so for many of us we embrace it along with the extra responsibilities.

I have a question: What can we do to prevent being burnt out by the time the new year comes around?

Prepare and make INTENTIONAL TIME for a wellness reset.

I think of December as the Sunday night of the year. The final moments before going back to school and/or work, refocusing, getting really serious about what you set out to do, standing on business, all of it. For me, I set time aside for a wellness reset in August and at the end of the year. My birthday is in late August, so I like to take time to myself to travel, celebrate my birthday, and re-emerge for my new year. It is also a great time for a break in the therapy business as most clients are also on a break and things can be slower. September comes, and after Labor Day, we are back to the grind.

I took a break this summer and I recognized for myself that I needed to slow down in December too. As I said in last week’s blog post, Christmas for me is full of sorrel, fruit cake, and lots of treats. You may have your own foods and drinks that you enjoy. In a season where it is easy to overindulge, it is time for a reset. It makes sense. People want to kick off the new year modifying the way they eat or consume, limit or eliminate alcohol, also known as Dry January (click to learn more). Some in the religious community start the year with fasts as well. I am familiar with the Daniel Fast (click to learn more).

What does wellness look like for you? A reset includes rest but can also include fun activities. Balancing stillness with activeness is an on-going dance and skill.

What areas of your life do you want to address in 2024? As a therapist, of course I will encourage you to evaluate your mental health, emotional and social health/well-being.

What fell off the radar for you in 2023 that you want to give more attention to next year?

• diet/exercise

• being more mindful/attentive and present

• finances

• relationships

• self-care

• mental health and well-being

• travel

• quality time with self and others

• work/life balance

• personal goals

• professional goals

A wellness reset is a fantastic way to recalibrate and prioritize your well-being. I do my best thinking while traveling. Sometimes you need to zoom out of a situation to see things more clearly. Maybe I was stressing over the wrong things. I needed a disconnect to re-evaluate. It is not enough to set goals with wishful thinking. You need intention, motivation, discipline, and clear steps/objectives to get there.

I wish you and your loved ones all the best for the New Year!

I hope you make time for your wellness reset.

Rio Celeste Catarata/ Waterfall, Tenorio Volcano National Park. Alajuela, Costa Rica

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