Wellness + Yoga

The Anxiety Chronicles: New Year, New Me?

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The Holiday Season

We’ve made it through the holidays! Phew. For some, it was a time of enjoyment and fun. For others, it was a rough go. For me, it was a mixture of both. I was excited about some much-needed time off and relaxation. Our holidays started with a beautiful Winter solstice celebration, a magical time to ponder about our intentions for the 2021 year and send them off into the universe, hoping they find their way back to us all in divine timing.

Christmas Memories

Christmas was filled with great memories, lots of cooking, and love. Then the time between Christmas and the new year, I fell into an abysmal bought of depression with a sprinkle of anxiety. The weeks leading up to this fun-filled time were stressful. The weight of all of the changes COVID brought was starting to make me crack a bit, and my shoulders began to feel the weight of the world pushing down. All I wanted was to sleep and cry and try not to yell at everyone (this is one of my coping mechanisms that I absolutely hate). I felt like I had lost everything I had worked for on my mental health journey. I felt lost as to where I was supposed to be headed and didn’t know what to do to climb back out. But this time, I talked with those close to me about what was going on. I told myself that I needed to use this time to recoil and reflect. I made it OK to feel this way, take a break, and do some uncomfortable inner work.

Dealing with anxiety and depression around the holidays

The holidays and then just reaching the end/beginning of something (new year) for those with anxiety and depression can trigger not the best emotions and habits. We feel we should have reached a certain level in the game of life; if you will, I think we all go through it at some point in our lives, and unfortunately, most will experience this more than once in their lifetime.

New Years Resolutions

This year and every year, we should not feel the need to put on the stress of starting a new routine on January 1st. Revving up to this date can add so much unneeded stress to the joy the holiday time should bring. Take the time to start new habits, routines, and, ultimately, a new way of life. We are creating and cultivating a new way of thinking and living; that shit takes time. So, take a moment to remember to breathe.

Find a new way to start the new year

Around this time last year, I was eagerly waiting for my 40-day yoga revolution program to start, and if you want to hear about this journey, you can find it here. This program was a great introduction to the Baptise yoga method and started me on my meditation journey. I realized how much more freeing it was to not worry about making all of these life-altering changes on January 1st every year. This year, I followed a new plan, and for any of you who maybe haven’t started what you wanted or perhaps now you want to make some changes, guess what??? That’s awesome! You’ve manifested it in your mind, so really, you have already started! SWEET, right!?! What I found was to take a day or two to think about how you can make these changes. I find it super helpful to say to myself. “just make it 30 days and see what happens after that”. Breaking up my “new year, new you” plan helps me stay motivated and not become overwhelmed, inflated with defeat, and then inevitably give up.

Keep Pushing

I guess what I’m trying to say is don’t feel guilty if you haven’t made any life-altering changes yet. What is meant for you will come in perfect timing. Every day can be your new year, and every day is a chance to start fresh, make a fork in the path, and turn in a new direction.

Come with me on my 30-day journey

Interest in integrating yoga into your life for the new year? I would love for you to come on my 30-yoga journey with Adriene in her Breath series. Her series starts on day one with nothing other than a welcome video. It’s a great way to start slowly and get yourself motivated for the next 30 days of transformation. Her series can be found on her channel here.

Other ways to start the new year

If you’re looking to create some balance internally, check out my post on a quick 7-day chakra flow, I found from one of my favorite yogis, Allie #journeyjunkie. The blog post on this can be found here, and if you want a more in-depth look at our seven main chakras, you can find that here. Or maybe you need to rebalance your five embodied elements, create and find balance within all of the elements that make you, you. Here is this series, and each element has a lovely yoga flow to pull it all together: Fire Element, Earth Element, Air Element, Water Element, and Spirit Element.

It’s OK to not be OK all the time

And if you are someone who is struggling with anxiety and depression, please know that you are not alone, and the brighter days will shine again. We need to normalize not being OK, sometimes we are not OK, and that’s OK. If you want to learn more about my most recent mental health journey, you can find the other installments here: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

Sending you all the feels

I hope this new year brings an abundance of peace, love, confidence in yourself and your dreams, and the push you need to follow those lovely dreams. Nothing is too great; you can always create the life you imagined. The steps we take to get there shape us into who we are and give us the strength to keep climbing. So, as we head into a new year…

Wishing you love, light and inner peace babes ✌🌈✨💜

The Anxiety Chronicles: New Year, New Me?
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25 Comments

  • Holly B

    January 4, 2021 at 9:02 am Reply

    Even though 2020 was a struggle for most people, it gave me a chance of reflection and looks like you had a good year! Happy new year.. I hope you are able to reach all your goals this year!

  • Emi

    January 4, 2021 at 12:09 pm Reply

    Great post. I wrote some similar things recently about not feeling pressure around New Year’s resolutions nor needing to set things up on January 1st.

  • Sydney Delong-Eat Simply Sweet

    January 4, 2021 at 3:02 pm Reply

    Great thoughts! The holidays can be a huge struggle for many people, and for me it’s a struggle because it’s so busy, and I don’t feel like I get a break. My goal this year is to get into a better morning routine to help prepare my mind and body for the day!

  • Cecile

    January 4, 2021 at 3:31 pm Reply

    You are so right when you say we need to normalize not to be ok..and it’s OK. I also suffer from anxiety and this summer it was behind my control. I try every methode I knew to keep it all toghether. I might just try Yoga!

  • Sabrina

    January 4, 2021 at 3:47 pm Reply

    This was a very encouraging blog for dealing with anxiety and depression. I have heard all the benefits of yoga. I am going to make an effort to incorporate yoga in my life. Thanks for sharing.

  • Keirsten

    January 4, 2021 at 4:45 pm Reply

    Happy New Year! I’ve been doing Adriene’s 30 day yoga journey’s for the past couple of years and I freaken love them! But now I have a virtual friend that I know who does them too, yay! I can relate to a lot of what you wrote here, especially the anxiety/depression stuff. I’m realising that I can’t have any caffeine anymore bc it just triggers it too easily. 🙁

  • Tiffany

    January 4, 2021 at 6:55 pm Reply

    This holiday season has been hard! I’m starting with focusing on movement every day to try to get ahead of depression.

  • Erica Pittenger

    January 5, 2021 at 11:31 am Reply

    I love this! I love all of this!! I feel the same way! You spoke to my heart! I shared it all over Facebook 😉 great read! Thank you

  • Chelsea

    January 5, 2021 at 5:55 pm Reply

    I totally get what you mean about the holidays and feelings of depression and anxiety. I have a tough time dealing with my feelings after Christmas is over and then again after New Years. Those feelings are even more intense in a year that I’m not able to visit with loved ones because of COVID. Love your sensitivity to your feelings. Hugs in the new year!

  • Marianne

    January 5, 2021 at 10:44 pm Reply

    The Holidays are definitely difficult for a lot of people… and I’m sure that 2020 was especially hard. But learning how to stay positive, clear your mind, and ask for help when you need it is something we all need to strive for. I will definitely be looking into the 30 day yoga program!

  • Misskorang

    January 5, 2021 at 11:12 pm Reply

    2020 taught me to appreciate myself, my family and friends. It taught me to heal from my trauma because wading through it wo t cut it for the long run.

    I have also learned how much stronger I am and how when my husband says he loves me, he means it.

    This year, I am focusing on appreciating all the good I have, doing the best I know how and opening my mind and heart to learning what I don’t know.

  • Cindy Moore

    January 10, 2021 at 8:33 pm Reply

    Thank you for such a vulnerable post. It is okay to not feel okay. Looking forward to a better year although it’s off to a bit of a rough start.

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