_ It’s been a very interesting start to 2012 to say the least.  I’ve been surrounded with emotions.  Friends.  Friends of friends.  Clients.  So many people expressing so many emotions – and this blog’s for you!

People are bummed after reflecting on 2011.  There’s Christmas aftermath – too much food, too much family, too much spending.   Feelings of loneliness.  Feelings of inadequacy.  Feelings of helplessness about the upcoming year.  Depression.  Thoughts of just ending it all.  Seriously – I’ve heard it all.

Call it what you want.  Label it any catch-all, over diagnosed “disorder” you want.  Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).  Shit, call it PTSD.  With the stress that we place on ourselves during the month of December, and the ensuing opening of emotional  floodgates, we pretty much meet all the criteria.  The fact is, it's messed up!

To date, this month has been a real eye opener. 

This time of year isn’t supposed to be like this.  We should be starting off the New Year excited.  Ecstatic.  Refreshed.   Energized.  Invigorated.  Motivated.  Determined.   It’s intended to be the beginning of something new.  Isn’t that why there’s such a big deal made out of New Years’ Eve - a chance for a new start? 

In pretty much all of my discussions with people, I’ve started with ONE thought – ENJOYMENT!  Do things in a way that will keep you happy and where possible remove the superfluous BS from your life.  If you’re not enjoying something, figure out why the hell you’re doing it.

Below are some of the ENJOYABLE Suggestions and Tips that I’ve come up with for beating the blah’s, overcoming the overwhelming and pushing forward into the New Year.


“I just feel so blah.   I  have to get back into the gym.”

My advice:  For the next month get your mind away from what you typically think of as “a workout“(1 hour, 3+  times a week, 3 sets, 10 reps, blah, blah, blah).  The gym is crammed with people looking to “get back into it” and they’re pretty much all doing “typical gym shit”.  Think of movement, and think of enjoying it.  #MovementIsMedicine right?!?!  What have you enjoyed in the past?   Take 30 minutes and move - this is a heck of a lot more manageable than an hour plus, and can be just as productive, if not more.  Whether it’s a walk, a jog, a run, some simple movements or exercises - get the heart rate up a bit and enjoy moving.

 
“I feel like crap after the holidays, I really have to get my diet back on track.”

My advice:  For the next month - enjoy food!  Steer clear of becoming obsessed with calories and fat and numbers.  We know the basics of healthy eating (frequent meals, lots of fruit and veggies, not so much fat, 8 glasses of water).  More damage is done by becoming consumed with - and stressing that we’re not eating the right food, or eating too much, or not eating enough.   North American culture has fucked up our ability to simply enjoy food.  We’re programmed from an early age to finish what’s on our plate rather than listening to our body’s needs.   We’re guided by the Martha’s and the Rachael’s and led to think that everything we prepare has to look extraordinary and taste even better.  TV has taken away from our ability to just enjoy experimenting with food, and our fast-paced, “convenience food” society has failed to expose many of us to Mom’s and Grandma’s preparing meals without a recipe, turning leftovers into solid, hearty and edible meals, and not stressing that everything is “just so” – except for Sunday dinner.  It’s simple, food is supposed to be good and nourishing and enjoyable.  Spend less time thinking about food and more time just enjoying it.  Listen to your body.  Enjoy each bite.  Stop when you feel full. 

 
“I’m just overwhelmed and don’t know where to start.”

As we set off towards reaching our goals we become consumed with a quest for “the best (and fastest) way to do it”.  We Google “How to [insert goal here]” and are hit  with “about 100,000 results”, and begin to plow our way through these only to become more confused with all of the different suggestions and advice that’s out there.  More cardio.  Less cardio, more weights.  Less cardio, less weights, more intervals.  No carb’s.  Low glycemic.  Blood-types.  Shakes.  High intensity.  Super-slow.  Hybrid this.  Isolated that.  GEESH!!

My advice: For the next month, reduce your “input sources” and stop all the reading!  Find one or two sources, preferably the ones that you LIKE the most, and for the next month – this is all you read pertaining to your topic.  Don’t click on the MSN or Yahoo link.  Don’t buy the new book on the subject.  Listen to the mentors that you have chosen but remember that following their advice must be enjoyable.

Yes, I know that this approach may be a bit laissez faire (and my clients are probably sitting there, jaws agape, saying “WTF?”), but a month of a more "enjoyable" approach may just provide you with enough decompression from 2011 to start to look ahead and see the rest of the year unfolding with a little more hope.

_ Does Christmas leave you exhausted and needing a vacation?  Longing to take a break from people, food, family, stores, the car, the TV, pretty much life in general? 

Why is that?  It’s supposed to be a break isn’t it?

We’ve been exposed to Christmas “shit” since September - before Halloween, before Remembrance Day (that’s a whole other topic of conversation).   We’ve had this pressure and deadline mounting for 3 months by the time The Big Day rolls around.  

Buy, buy, buy.  Go, go, go.  Eat eat eat.  Drink drink drink.  Happy happy joy joy!  ‘Tis the season. 

Gifts for wives, husbands, kids, cousins, grandparents, friends, co-workers, bosses, teachers, clients, the postman  – pretty much anyone you can think of right?!  Then there are the functions and the food (see my previous blog on Restraint around the holidays).  The obligations put on us (and that we put on ourselves) are endless and heaven forbid we forget a card or a gift or say “No!” to attending a party or dodge the treat tray at work or skip a second serving lest we offend someone.

TIME OUT!

I get the whole “Spirit of the Season” thing, but somewhere along the way this spirit has became a little possessed!   Look back over the last few years – when was the last time you took some time and did something just for YOU over Christmas (and that doesn’t mean Christmas shopping)?  

GASP!!!  

I know!  It sounds so selfish doesn’t it?  Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that people turn into Scrooge and become rude, but seriously folks... WTF??   What’s so wrong with saying, “Sorry Johnny, I’m not going to be able to make your party” or “Thank you, this is delicious but I’m not going to have another piece”.  Really?  Does this decision to abstain revoke our “friend status”? (I guess it might on Facebook)

We lose control of ourselves out of obligation to others.  Reluctant to be deemed “non-Christmassy” or hurt someone’s feelings, we lose sight of the goals that we’ve set out for ourselves and have strived hard to achieve all year long.  And when the dust settles, we’re left standing there, looking like we’ve just been beat with a Nerf bat!

Unfortunately life is not a team sport.  We have family and friends to support us through tough times but ultimately successes and failures fall on our shoulders.  We’re the ones who don’t give ourselves credit where credit is due and we’re the ones who beat ourselves up the worst.  And if family and friends are truly there to support us, they should understand if we Just Say No... shouldn’t they?

As that magical day rapidly approaches, and all pistons begin to fire, do yourself a favour and take a few minutes just for you.  You deserve it after all.  It is a holiday!  Remember your goals and the things that YOU want to achieve and have strived towards throughout the year. 

Suggestions:

1.       If the stress of the Season is accumulating, allow yourself a few periodic moments of non-Christmas activity.

2.       Just like you would for a doctor’s appointment, set aside some time for YOU.  Get a massage.  Go for a walk.  Grab a workout.  If you don’t want to leave the house, find a quiet corner, unplug the phone and read a book.  Listen to some music.  Take a nap.

3.       Be true to yourself and what your priorities are.  You may have to adjust some of your regular habits in order to make a compromise but forsaking them altogether will only set you back.

4.       Save some of your Christmas cheer for the rest of the year.  We become too caught up with the Hallmark Calendar of Celebrations and forget that we can hold on to the “Spirit of the Season” and be Merry the other 11 months of the year too! 

5.       Enjoy the holiday for what it truly means to you.... no one else can enjoy it for you!