The first time I did 'dry November' was a few years ago. I was busy but not achieving very much, and catching every bug going, and knew that I needed to up the self-care if I was going to cope with December and all it inevitably brings. As well as cutting out the booze, I had more early nights, slept better (thanks to no wine) and was surprisingly, quietly productive. For the first time, I felt ready for Christmas. I was calm and rested, my decks were cleared, and my usual stressed out, cynical self was nowhere to be seen. It really opened my eyes to how topping up the tank now can be a total game changer for the weeks ahead. Judith Kleinman, author of Finding Quiet Strength, likens it to building and organising your emotional toolkit: 'I think of it as gathering the skills, or tools, so you're refreshed, ready, and in a stable emotional state when things become busy and stressful,' she says. Having experienced the festive season in a not-very-stable emotional state, I can vouch for the difference a steady foundation makes.
Resting doesn't come easily or naturally to many of us, but if you understand that rest can take many forms, it will be easier to find a way for you to fit more restful activities into your day (for me, it was a 30-day yoga programme I did for up to half an hour in the evening before bed). And while we tend to think of the new year as the best time for a mental reset, if you go too long without giving your mind the chance to recalibrate, you can end up very stressed and overwhelmed. 'It's like releasing the pressure that's built up so you can then go out and reconnect with the world,' says Kleinman. Stealing some quiet time in November has now become a habit that I look forward to the secret to enjoying Christmas, rather than just surviving it. As coach Marina Fernández Julián says, 'Once you've taken some time out, you can go back outside, play big, and spread around your new zest for life.'
This story is from the December 2022 edition of Psychologies UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2022 edition of Psychologies UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Red flags IN YOUR FINANCES?
Worried that a loved one (or yourself) might be being controlled by a partner? The experts explain what to look out for - and what to do
The sacred everyday
Getting in touch with the natural world in which your ancestors lived could open your eyes to a mystical, hopeful new reality, writes ritualist Rebecca Campbell
Can you think yourself healthy?
Forget popping pills, it's time to discover your mind's power to heal you, writes Kellie Gillespie-Wright
I crave adventure, but want to know where I'm going
It's not easy to balance the lure of the new with the need to be still for those around her, reflects Caro Giles
Divorce shouldn't be seen as a negative thing'
TV presenter Laura Hamilton on why she believes happiness is in our own hands. By Lauren Taylor
ONE STEP AT A TIME
Have your best intentions slipped already? Elaine lljon Foreman and Clair Pollard share some ways to create change that sticks
"You need someone to look into your eyes and say It's going to be all right'
International best-selling author and psychologist Dr Julie Smith tells Sally Saunders how she has coped with global success - and life-changing news
Find your VOICE
Try these simple steps to become a more confident communicator, says Kellie Gillespie-Wright
TIME FOR A NEW perspective?
Sometimes you need to take a step backwards to move forwards, discovers Emma Cooling
Simple, daily habits to keep your stress levels in check
From humming to imagining yourself in the future, wellbeing experts share their favourite ways to keep calm when the world feels crazy
