3 Essential Phases To Reset Your Health And Energy Levels

Are you crawling to the Christmas finish line? Wondering where on earth 2022 has gone?Constantly flirting with burnout?

Well, you’re not alone. ?2022 has been a big one. ?

It was a year of global external shocks which do have a big impact on our energy levels and sense of wellbeing. Our brains are designed to keep us alive by doing its best job at predicting the future, so it doesn’t like uncertainty.?

Cost of living realities, wars, ongoing climate change impacts, staff shortages and adjusting to a new way of working have created tonnes of uncertainty which isn’t going anywhere unfortunately. ?It’s no wonder the CEO of a big Accounting firm in Australia this week described 2022 as the year of exhaustion.??

So, the big question I want you to ask yourself right now is this.

Can you keep going at this pace? Or does something have to change?

I am big believer than you need to own your own health, fitness and wellbeing. Whilst there are always going to be external influences which can knock us off course, ultimately you are responsible for your wellbeing. ?And with the right mindset, activities, and support, a healthier balance can certainly be achieved.

The next couple of weeks are the best time of the year to properly switch off and recharge your batteries.?I remember from my days as a Chartered Accountant, that this was the one time each year when I genuinely didn’t need to check my emails because most of my workmates and clients were also off work. ?

I know from my current client base of Lawyers and Accountants that they ‘just do 1 or 2 hours of work each day’ on holidays during the year, which is the cultural norm but a recipe for disaster for your mental and physical health.

So, if this festive period is a rare opportunity to switch off and recharge, what should you do (and not do)?

There are 3 phases to this, I’m calling it the 3 R’s.?Feel free to type this into your timesheets over the coming weeks.?7.5 hours to the 3 R’s, thank you very much.

Phase 1 – Rest

If you’re a busy professional, there’s a good chance you need some solid rest. If you’re a busy professional WITH KIDS then I’m putting money on it that you’re in desperate need of some proper restful activities.

Let’s start with this important concept. Sleep and rest are not the same thing.

High quality sleep is SO important for your mental and physical health, this is something I explore deeply with my clients because so often once we improve the sleep, we solve a lot of other issues at the same time.

So yes, please do prioritise your sleep over the festive period.

Here are some suggestions of ways you can activate your rest,

Digital detox – take a few full days off your phone, laptop, tv etc. Give your brain a proper rest from the constant technology that runs our lives every other week of the year. ?Replace time using technology with time in nature instead.

Dial up or dial down your socialising – for some people this might be an amazing opportunity to reconnect with friends and family, this will be restful and energising. For others you may find that your batteries will be recharged by having a couple of days completely to yourself.?Maybe just sinking into the couch with a good book instead.

Immerse yourself in a hobby – I believe that hobbies unlock so much joy in our lives but with the busy-ness of work and life, we put everyone else first and our hobbies become a very rare treat.?So, if your golf clubs are collecting dust in the shed, then it’s time to get them out and reconnect with your hobbies. ??Play music, paint, run, whatever your hobbies are. ?Whilst these might be active, you will switch off from your usual thoughts and worries, you may find yourself in a state of flow and because of these factors, your hobbies can be beautifully restful.

Really nourish your body – The link between food and mood continues to get stronger.?When we’re busy with work, it’s easy to eat loads of processed, convenient food which most often is not good for our health (or waistline). ?With a bit more time on your hands and control over what you eat, use this period to eat loads of healthy food.?With this, comes being mindful of how much alcohol you consume as well.

Essentially here, the goal is to break the regular thought patterns, routines, and constant high levels of stress that so many busy professionals live with on a daily basis.??Give your central nervous system a chance to function in a more balanced and appropriate manner.

Phase 2 – Reflect

Now you’re feeling more rested. ?You’ve had some amazing sleeps, you’ve been gently active (or vigourous if that’s your style), you’ve reconnected with some friends and hobbies and starting to remember that how good it feels to have a high sense of health & wellbeing.

Next up it’s time to reflect.

I’m a sucker for nostalgia, I’m reflecting on a holiday before it’s even over.

But there’s something special about reflecting on the year that has been once you have given yourself the time, space and permission to rest.

One of my all-time favourite sayings is this, we overestimate what we can achieve in a day, but we underestimate what we can achieve in a year.

And because of this, it’s nice to hit pause, and be grateful and full of self-compassion towards what you have achieved, what you have overcome, how you have grown, what made you laugh, what relationships did you make, what did you learn, what are you grateful for.

This requires a pen, paper and a quiet space. ?

I don’t want to give you too much structure here. Just get the pen to the paper and see where your heart takes you.?It will be a beautiful experience; you’ll no doubt feel a range of emotions but that is ok.

It’ll be fascinating to see what pops up for you. I hope this experience makes you realise that 2022 has actually been an amazing year and that you are capable of so much.

Sit with this.?In Positive Psychology they call it savouring. Something I am trying to work on myself. Not just achieving something or experiencing something positive and then moving onto the next thing but actually sit with it and enjoy it for an extended period of time.?We are all good at sitting with it if it’s negative but not so much when it’s a positive experience.

Phase 3 – Reset

Reset, this phase is all about looking forward.

Setting direction and goals.

Identify the type of person we want to be and the activities that it’ll require.

Phase 2 may have naturally drifted into phase 3, that can sometimes happen.?Once that pen gets going, your heart is open, your mind is in a safe space, well, it all just comes rolling out.

However, many of you are now feeling rested, you’ve reflected on the year and with a few more days of space and energy, you’re ready to look to ahead to 2023.

Some people have strong opinions for or against goals, I am not really going to argue for either here.

I just think this time of the year is perfect because you’re not on autopilot, you’re not in a high stress state, you’ve had time to reconnect with the people you love and think about your health and your life.??So why wouldn’t you use this golden window of opportunity to set some direction and focus for the year ahead.

Maybe come back to that earlier question I put forward; can you keep going at this pace? Or does something have to change?

·?????What activities do you need to do more of?

·?????What may you need to do less of?

·?????What support do you need to make this happen?

·?????What habits do you need to form or break?

·?????What do you need to learn more about in order to move in the right direction?

·?????What shift in mindset is required for you to achieve your health and fitness goals?

·?????If you were to sit down and reflect in 30 days, 90 days, 365 days, what would success look like to you?

If 2023 is going to be the year that you rediscover your fitness and happiness, start prioritising yourself a bit more and seeing the same success with your health, that you currently experience in your career, then I would love to support you with your goals.

January 16th is my next intake of 1 on 1 coaching clients, are you in?

I can currently only take on 5 people per month for the Vigour and Joy coaching program to ensure the quality of your individual planning, habit development support and level of health and fitness coaching remains extremely high.?

My coaching focuses on supporting you to master 5 key areas

1.????Mindset and habits

2.????Movement

3.????Positive nutrition

4.????Sleep and stress

5.????Joy and happiness

Reach out to me directly or head to https://coaching.liftyourwellbeing.com/

Thank you for taking the time to read.?

I wish you and your family a really restful and joyful festive break.

If you have any thoughts or comments, I’d love to hear them. ?I enjoy putting something out into the world that may help someone with their health and happiness so it’s extremely rewarding to hear back from people when it does.

Kevin McAlister