Because November and January are often associated with fatigue and seasonal depression, Julie, from De Saison, Art de vivre et de travailler, shares her personal experience and her strategies for staying mentally and physically healthy during this time of year.
So the first thing to do is to put gentle guardrails in place to prevent fatigue and stress, and to get to know yourself and be aware of the potential pitfalls of winter, so you can avoid them or deal with them better. To get there, here are a few suggestions:
Handling the time change: don't hesitate to adjust your routine so you can go to bed earlier, guilt-free, and make sure you don't have tasks to do late in the evening, so you can give yourself some “feel good” time before bed.
Marking the start and end of your day: it's important to clearly define when your workday starts and ends, even when you're overloaded. This includes setting regular intervals for breaks and relaxation time so you don't feel overworked.
Flexibility and proactivity: plan your schedule with possible fatigue in mind rather than hoping for uninterrupted energy. Stay flexible and don't hesitate to depart from your routine when you need to, while staying proactive in managing your time and your commitments.
Preventing overwork: watch out for the trap of skipping breaks and not spending enough time outdoors. Deliberately plan breaks, delegate heavy tasks and avoid overloading your schedule.
Putting yourself first: make sure you leave room for activities that draw you in and energize you, even during very busy periods. Clear the less essential tasks out of your calendar so you can focus on your personal well-being.
Would you like to discover more tips for maintaining balance and effectively fighting off the gloom and low energy? Take a few minutes to watch this video!
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