Let’s jingle the bells and ring in the New Year as our best and most energetic selves

There’s this weird phenomenon that occurs at the end of every year.

A mania hits the Western world as we gear up for yuletide season strapping on our shoes with rocket launchers to race toward the finish line.

So much so that by the time we get to Christmas many of us are exhausted with little left fuel in the tanks and the thought of hanging out with the obligatory crew at Christmas can feel like more of a chore than a blessing.

Anyone else feel this way?

I don’t know about you, but I love Christmas and the feelings of comfort and closeness it brings. Right up there with Easter it has always been one of my favourite times of year.

So why am I setting myself up to collapse in a heap rather building habits that renew my energy? I don’t want to feel like I am spending Christmas in recovery from life during one of the most magical times of the year! WTF?

Wake up call!

My bad habits are getting in the way of experiencing the incredible psychological benefits that Christmas and down time brings.

Psychological fact - Did you know that our brain reacts in exponential mood boosting ways during the holiday season?

• The act of gift-giving, for example, triggers a cascade of neural responses associated with reward and pleasure.
• Holiday music has a unique effect on our brain, invoking nostalgia, evoking emotions, and even triggering the release of oxytocin, the "love hormone."

The combination of these neural responses contributes to the joy and happiness we experience during Christmas.

But there is also a flip side. The holiday season can also be a source of stress and depression for some individuals. Coping with the expectations, financial pressures, and feelings of loneliness that may arise during this time requires attention and support.

The bottom line is this. How you manage yourself and your energy on the lead up to Christmas will either help or hinder your ability to experience the best that this magical time has to offer.?

For my part I’m making to a promise to you right now to make the switch.

• I’m going to start winding down and block the temptation to run like the clappers to get through the pile of work that will still be there after the New Year and beyond.
• I’m going to prioritise a focus on spending time with my friends and family.
• Taking care of my health and well-being.
• Doing the things I love like writing, swimming, and playing with my children.
• Slowing down to speed up.
• Managing my energy to get ready to make 2024 an unstoppable year.

What are you going to stop doing right now to be your best self and put yourself first?

And remember Christmas is synonymous with peace not productivity!

Who’s with me?

A WEEK IN TANZANIA

What a cracker of a retreat! I had the privilege of travelling to East Africa in Tanzania to work with a phenomenal and diverse executive team driven to create a better world for us to live in. If you've never been, Tanzania is one of the more advanced and prosperous cities in all of Africa with a booming local economy from agriculture, mining and tourism - it's the gateway to some of the world's best safari parks and Mount Kilimanjaro. The local culture is gentle and funny with a focus on family and spirituality and eating MEAT and loads of it. I hope to return next year to see how the team is doing.

"AMBITIOUS MINDS" SEASON WRAP

Our first season of "Ambitious Minds" wrapped this week, with a stellar episode with Warwick Fairfax . We got to hear from a leader with a very unique view on life and had a sneaky peek into a world of power, privilege and real-life episode of "Billions". How Warwick has used his background to create a life of significance is soul-stirring.

Our theme for the six episodes was adversity, with conversations that dared to explore the topics and experiences we often shy away from yet need more of.

You can catch the replay of episode 6 here - and it's well worth the watch!

We will be back in 2024 with more episodes, stay tuned for the return date. A huge thank you to my co-host the effervescent and hilarious James Kelley, Ph.D. and our wing-woman the multi-talented Kerrie Allen for keeping us going behind the scenes - she's our quiet stealth and we would be lost without her!