Don’t Put You At the Bottom of the Christmas List

This week I was tagged on social media by a very good friend in a quote on the daily rest Instagram page. 

“instead of finishing the year strong, why

don’t we finish the year soft? why don’t we

finish the year restful and grateful for

making it through yet another crazy cycle on

earth?”

It got my thought’s ticking…. again. 

In the fitness industry we are all guilty of using that tagline “end the year strong”. In fact I know I’ve used it recently.

And I absolutely agree that you should end the year strong.

But this does NOT mean running around like a headless chicken trying to squeeze in all those goals that you set back in January.

It also doesn’t mean that we should succumb to all the pressures that the festive season brings. The social events, to be seen to be “doing” and being the perfect hostess with the mostest.

Of recent years I’ve not enjoyed Christmas, once my most favourite time of year it has been something I approach with dread, wanting to rekindle that magic that once fired my inside up.

Speaking with Kirsty today between us we nailed the reason on the head.

Christmas to us recently has been a time of feeling exhausted, tired from the build up, the socials, the family commitments so much so that by the time the big day comes we are too bushed to sit back and enjoy it.

This year I promised it would be different.

Way back in March i committed to a ‘Winter Solstice’ retreat to be hosted by Tanya Fogan, a local expert in alternative & holistic health.

It’s running the weekend before Christmas and in her own words “We turn our backs on the bright lights, cheesy music and excessive shopping and towards candlelight, warmth and a nurturing space of rest and presence which is exactly what winter asks of us. “

It sounded the most perfect way to spend my weekend without parenting duties and right before Christmas too.

Both myself and my friend signed up immediately.

As it currently stands apart from this planned retreat I’ve still not committed to any other “Christmas” social events outside of the Elite Conditioning Mingle & Jingle Christmas party.

This year I am finishing the year differently.

I will finish the year strong but a different kind of strong.

My training will remain my main focus but right up there at the top of my list is also rest. 

Allowing myself time to stop. 

Recover.

That early night.

To have that night in front of TV with Christmas movies of past.

That time to breath.

This year I won’t get pulled into the expectation that every weekend should be filled with festivities.

For me finishing the year strong this year is about keeping myself in balance. Keeping life balanced. 

Going into the big day rested and ready to enjoy it fully rather than exhausted.

So have a think about what finishing the year strong means to you?

Perhaps it’s about going back to those special words I spoke about a few weeks ago “yes” and “no”.

Perhaps it’s keeping your exercise regime going but choosing those more holistic classes that help to rest the mind but also replenish the body.

Maybe it is staying in on a Saturday night and gorging that TV series.

Whatever your strong is, set it out and stick to it.

I know I will be sticking to my version, even if I come across as the grinch in the meantime ! Because I know come Christmas Day I will have all the energy to play Father Christmas with the jolliest of “Ho Ho ho’s”.

With our Stronger Together program preparing to change to FLEX 30 from the New Year with the recent addition of gravity yoga this could be the perfect set of classes for helping you find your strong leading into Christmas. 

Either way make sure your strong end to 2022  is YOUR strong and not what you think or feel or are pressured into it being.  

Put you at the top of your Christmas list is the best gift you can give yourself and others around you.

Love

Karen and the team