'Tis the season... to rest up!
“Christmas is at our throats again” – Noel Coward
Every year the curtain closes on all our achievements, reconciliations, wins, and of course our messes, fall-outs and losses. Sometimes it’s easy to forget the lessons learned, the standing ovations, the memories made, and the work-in-progress because of the “stress” of the holiday season.
But during this transition into the new year, we invite you to rest, reflect, and embrace a little bit of “renewal”. We’ve put together some self-care tips for a more mindful holiday season – without the drama.
TIME TO REST
Gone are the days when your biggest worry was making it onto the “nice” list or finishing your school’s festive arts-and-crafts project on time.
Now, navigating the holiday season can be a challenge. The stress of family dynamics, the chaos of holiday shopping, and the extra workload that magically appears overnight can all be a bit overwhelming.
It’s natural if you’ve felt a bit disconnected from the glitz of it all. But, dear friend, it’s time to rest.
Take some ‘me-time'. Enjoy your favourite meals. Put down your phone and pick up that book you bought that’s collecting dust. Try out meditation. Or simply binge-watch that series you’ve felt too guilty to start before.
We mean it.
This is also the perfect time to indulge in your self-care rituals and pamper yourself for 2025. Not only will it help you feel calm and renewed, but also allow you to reconnect with yourself. From indulging in your favourite body-care products, to setting the perfect scene for your moments of pamper, we’ve got everything you need in our ‘AKT of self-care’ routine, a guide to creating the perfect wellness moment with AKT.
A MOMENT OF REFLECTION
Journaling is one of the best ways to reflect on the year. We know, it sounds kitsch and silly, but there’s evidence it makes a real difference. If you don’t think of yourself as a writer, you might be wrong! We’re all writers, in our own ways. You might write grocery lists in the shape of stanzas, or riddles to your boss in corporate jargon that only a few can understand, texts that feel like novels to your friends about how your mother won't stop playing ‘Last Christmas’ by Wham!
So get a pen and write. Or paint. Or sing. Or dance. We’re all creative chameleons, and self-reflection often finds its purest form in the worlds we create.
CAUTION: If you’ve started journaling this year, you might feel drawn to rereading old journal entries. Whilst it might be comforting to get nostalgic and reflect on how embarrassing it was to be so down bad for that one person whose name you can’t even remember now, there is so much more that made you this year. Look at all the things you powered through and your achievements. Take some time to give yourself a standing ovation — you deserve it.
A RETREAT FOR PERSONAL RENEWAL
Personal renewal doesn’t only happen during your self-care rituals as you, use AKT’s luxurious body-care range, while incense wafts through the air, and you sip herbal tea… Okay, sometimes it does.
We all have things we need to work on. Take time to acknowledge your frustrations and your hopes for change, and get creative! Whether it’s through creating mood boards, manifesting your dreams, or meditating, these small acts can spark renewal.
It might also be helpful to refresh your living space. Our physical environment significantly influences our mindset and mental well-being, making this transitional period an ideal time to either thoroughly clean or begin redecorating your space. Not only will it enhance your focus and tranquility, but it will also give your personal environment a fresh look as we welcome the new year.
FAREWELL TO THE YEAR
Goodbyes rarely signify the end. We usually think of endings as definite moments, like movie credits rolling or a book closing. It’s hard to imagine what awaits us. Sometimes, it can be scary. But as we bid farewell to the year and set new goals, a new chapter commences. With all the good 2024 brought us, but also new experiences, friends, and memories that await us.
Because, every new year the curtain opens full of opportunity.
The stage is yours, so take it.
