How To Slow Down & Recharge Your Batteries

When I think back over the last 12 months, it’s hard to believe that a year has come and gone already. So much has happened that I barely know where to start when it comes to reflecting on the year (and it doesn’t help that my memory is terrible these days). I will be sharing a few reflections from this year on the blog – stay tuned!

I’ve always thought of the end of the year as a time to slow down, reflect, and recharge my batteries. However, I’ve noticed that this can be a tough time to actually find moments to slow down and reflect. Holidays, events, and family gatherings make it hard to find time alone for reflection.

On top of that, there’s this pressure or expectation that we should be geared up and ready to go as soon as January 1 rolls around, even if you didn’t have any time to hit the reset button at all. I know I’m only going to dread the first Monday of the year if I don’t give myself proper time and space to let go of this past year first.

If you’ve been feeling the need to slow down and recharge before you can even think about next year, I want to share a few tips to help you find more time to reflect, reset, and make space for what’s to come.

Reflect

First of all, it’s important to find little moments when you can sit with yourself and reflect on everything you’ve accomplished over the past year. You might automatically think about the negative things that have happened depending on what kind of year you had, but it’s important to recognize the little accomplishments, small wins you’ve had, projects you’ve finished, new things you’ve welcome into your life, or maybe even shifts within your own mindset and beliefs you’ve let go of about yourself.

Find a quiet place where you can reflect and spend some quiet time, even if it’s just for 5 minutes at the end of the day or during your lunch break. Grab a notebook or blank piece of paper and write down what small changes you’ve made over the year. How has your mindset shifted since January? What have you learned about yourself this year? What are you proud of yourself for?

Related: 20 Ways To Reset, Reflect, And Refresh For The New Year

Reset

In order to recharge your batteries, you need to focus on not getting overwhelmed by the future. The new year can feel like an exciting time, but it can also feel incredibly overwhelming because of the endless possibilities. It’s important to take time to rest and get into a calmer state before you start the new year.

Think about how you want the end of the year to go. If you really don’t want it to be stressful, how can you make it less stressful? What do you need to do for yourself so you can get those moments of rest? Are you just thinking ahead to what you need to do or are you savoring these moments that will soon be over?

Related: 10 Simple Ways To Reset Your Mind, Body, And Soul

Make Space

Now is the time to make space in order to welcome new and exciting things into your life. This might mean letting go of physical clutter from your home by getting rid of anything you don’t use. It can also mean letting go of emotional clutter that’s holding you back from getting where you want to be in life.

There might be people who you need to forgive (or unfriend), past experiences to stop reliving in your head, or thoughts about yourself that you need to let go of. By reducing the clutter from your life, you can start this year with a clean slate and a positive mindset. Make a list of things to let go of in 2018 and make a plan to actually let go of them.

Related: How To Detox Your Mindset And Reduce Negative Thoughts

How are you slowing down before the New Year?