Very often we forget that the New Year is not only the beginning of a new period, but also the end of the old one. We know how to be filled with enthusiasm and get down to work, we know how to dream or plan, but summing up, analyzing mistakes, living through failures is not so easy for us. Losses, stress, sadness of the last year remain somewhere “under the carpet” of our consciousness and continue to influence us.
Summarize the outgoing year
Even if it seems to you that last year did not bring any significant changes, take the time to take stock. There are many formats and exercises, the most popular is perhaps the "wheel with spheres of life." Draw a circle on a large sheet of paper, break it into segments (family, finances, work, creativity, health, sports, etc.) and for each of them, remember the most important events of the year, write down what you learned in this area, what you did and what no, how happy you are, what you could have done differently, what qualities of yours led you to success, which hindered you.
The results of the year help not only to sort everything out on the shelves, but to close this period, to leave in the past everything that reaches behind us and pulls strength out of us.
Don't make yourself New Year's promises
After advice on summing up, it would be logical to advise you to set goals for the next year. But surprise: it's not that simple. If you regularly plan the year and this is a routine practice for you, then why not. But if you are the type of person who is going to start running, learning English and quitting smoking from January 1st or next Monday is not worth it. These promises usually don't come true, because we make them on the wave of New Year's enthusiasm, and this practice is very far from rational tactical planning. Then such promises turn into only a sense of guilt.
Therefore, if you want to plan a year, determine goals and the path to them, do it, for example, on Thursday 17 January - what is a bad day? And on New Year's Day, allow yourself a break and rest.
Turn into Santa Claus for yourself and your family
Often childhood memories are filled with the feeling of a New Year's fairy tale, but in childhood we did not think that this fairy tale does not arise by itself, someone creates it. Once our parents did it, now we can create it for ourselves. There are many hidden obstacles here: we do not always know how to do something for ourselves, sometimes we are more inclined to wait for an invitation or attention from others. In any case, try to make a list of things that are pleasant just for you (new Christmas tree decorations, dishes, a performance or a museum, your favorite dishes, party clothes, or just an evening with candles and a book) - and make yourself a gift. or arrange a surprise for your friends. The joy of other people, their sincere reaction and kind words always give strength.
Give in to the festive mood
If you are not in a festive mood at all, you have to go after it. The likelihood that the holiday will infiltrate your home through locked doors and windows is quite low. Go to holiday fairs, shopping, evening streets or snow-covered parks. Try not to resist the festive hustle and bustle that rages around. Do not reject it, do not mind, but simply observe in a relaxed way - and it will captivate you too.
Monitor the quality of communication
Oddly enough, the feeling of loneliness is treated not only by close deep relationships, but also by everyday contacts with people - provided that we have turned off the "autopilot" and we are actually present at the moment of communication. Eye contact with other people is very important: the reaction to eye contact is physiologically stitched in our brain. Therefore, try to look into the eyes of sellers, passers-by, people you meet in the office - smile and wish them good holidays for real, and not automatically. A few seconds of sincere human interaction can radically change our mood.
Reduce expectations from the holidays
Feelings of satisfaction are not absolute, they are simply the contrast between our expectations and our reality. If you have an opinion that the New Year's holidays should be perfect, that this is extremely important, because “as you meet, you will spend it,” try to look at these ideas with a certain criticality. A little bit of improvisation and openness to surprises and changes is an essential part of the New Year's mood.
