- Be kind to yourself.
The Christmas term is an exhausting one and despite the restful holiday, we’re plunged back into that pressure almost immediately in January. If you’ve put tasks off prior to or during the Christmas break, you might feel that pressure all the more. Regardless, make sure that you give yourself time to rest, say no when you need to and be realistic about what you can and can’t do when you return in January.
- Reframe your thinking.
Sometimes we find ourselves in a cycle of negativity when we expect the worst and this can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. You might have a class that is becoming increasingly challenging as they return from the excitement of Christmas or perhaps you have meetings to attend when you are also snowed under with marking and data. When things are not going as you planned, give yourself three minutes to look at the situation differently and ask yourself ‘if this situation was going as planned, what would I look like?’ Imagine yourself calmly and positively handling the situation. Visualise what the prime outcome would be. Picture how you would speak, move, respond. Positively preparing for an event can make you handle the situation in a completely different way and hopefully will also mean you have a better outcome.
- Get the balance right.
Everyone knows the saying about ‘everything in moderation’, but it doesn’t mean that everyone always follows this advice! Mental and physical health go hand in hand so you need to make sure that you are getting a good healthy mix of food in your diet, enough sleep and sufficient exercise. Planning ahead and being prepared will mean that you can make healthy choices that will help to fuel yourself through busy, wintery days.
- Seek help if you need it.
The winter is a time when you can often arrive at and leave work in the dark and sunlight feels like a distant memory when rain pounds on the window panes. If you feel persistently low, are having trouble sleeping or feel overwhelmed, make sure you seek appropriate help. Talk to a trusted friend, your line manager, HR or your doctor.
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