A few years ago I ran a number of motivational courses with a fella called Cliff Arnall – a creative guy that also coined the term Twixtmas for the time between Christmas and the New Year.
He suggested that you draw up a plan for that particular week, which involved doing a specific thing each day. For media purposes, he had a group of experts give an example of an ideal week. I was responsible for Day 5, which was ‘Do Something for Your Future Day’. Other days could include things like ‘A Random Act of Kindness Day’, ‘Do Something Different Day’ and so on …
Not surprisingly I recommended sowing seeds and if I remember correctly, sowing sprouting seeds, which can be grown on a windowsill and will also contribute to that healthy eating New Year’s resolution you will have made!
Incidentally, in 2005, Cliff was also responsible for calculating that the last Monday of January is the most depressing day of the year. He calculated the date using a variety of factors including weather conditions, debt levels, failed New Year’s resolutions and the number of days that had elapsed since the end of the Christmas holidays.
Over the past three years, researchers analysed more than 2 million tweets posted by Britons in January looking for negative language and phrases indicating a drop in mood and found that on ‘Blue Monday’ there will indeed be nearly five times the average number of tweets relating to guilt, as people abandon their promises to pursue a healthier lifestyle. Of course, one way to avoid that is to maintain your resolution!
Back to the time between Christmas and New Year though and I recently mentioned all of the above in a talk I gave recently and asked for alternative names for the week. The educated part of the audience told me that the Norwegians call it Romjul and the enterprising part of the audience came up with Taintmas, the Christmas perineum (honestly!), Merryneum and my favourite – Chrimbo Limbo. Can you come up with something better?
Wishing you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year – make it count. x
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