Reclaiming Your Energy After a Busy December

December often takes more from us than we realise.

Even when it’s filled with lovely moments, it can quietly drain us — emotionally, mentally, and physically. Social gatherings, family dynamics, end-of-year deadlines, the pressure to be cheerful, the remembering of what (or who) is missing… it all adds up.

By the time January arrives, many people don’t feel refreshed. They feel a little threadbare.

You might notice yourself saying yes when you mean no.
Or arriving in situations you thought you were prepared for — only to feel awkward, unsettled, or strangely lost once you’re there.

Perhaps you planned to go out, to socialise, to be “back to normal”… but when the moment came, your body or mind quietly said, I’m not ready yet.

That mismatch — between what we think we should be able to do and how we actually feel — can be surprisingly exhausting.

We often judge ourselves for it:
Why am I like this?
Everyone else seems fine.
I should be coping better.

But needing more space, more rest, or more time after a busy or emotionally loaded period isn’t weakness — it’s your nervous system asking to recalibrate.

January can be a time to gently reclaim your energy, rather than push yourself harder.

You might start by noticing:

What drains you
What restores you
What feels necessary
What feels optional

Energy isn’t just physical. It’s emotional and mental too.

Reclaiming your energy might look like:

• Fewer commitments

• More quiet time

• Clearer boundaries

• Letting yourself leave early

• Saying “not today” without over-explaining

• Rest without guilt

• Doing less, intentionally

It might also mean being kind to yourself when you find things awkward, overwhelming, or harder than expected. Those moments aren’t failures — they’re information. They’re telling you something about what you need right now.

This isn’t about withdrawing from life.
It’s about reconnecting with yourself so that when you do show up, it feels more honest and sustainable.

Journal Prompt

What gave me energy this week — and what quietly took it away?

You don’t need to fix anything. Just notice. That, in itself, is a way of reclaiming something.