Getting back to the grind

Its the season,  the warriors are getting their gear on for the summer vibes.  Vacations are planned, bottle stores are being raided and all hell is about to break loose on every beach across the South African coastline.

Enter December.

We know what this month is about, we know debauchery is about to be unleashed on our prized physiques that we've trained all year to obtain. Yet a quick 3 weeks down the line you waking up on the bathroom floor staring at the ceiling with a second heartbeat in your head.

Enter January. 

I’ll be honest with you, January and I have never quite seen eye to eye.  The start of a new year seems to automatically put everyone under pressure, as five minutes ago you were lazing on the beach by day and shovelling turkey and champagne by night.  

The fireworks die down and the sun rises on that dreaded first day of the month, which wants you to start being awesome when all you want to do is bury your head in a cushion on the couch, kick up your feet and take a much needed break from your break.

January expects you to start fresh, set new goals and establish new habits when your mind is still in the chill zone.  My modus operandi to this annual situation is to approach with caution, and ensure that you are mentally prepared for the transition well before it encroaches on your holiday swagger.

When the new year’s work week starts, diving head first into your reality of corporate meetings, rush hour traffic and pin stripe suits is going to leave you more exhausted than you were when you packed your holiday suitcase.

Getting back to the grind after the holidays is never an easy task.  I'm not going to sit here and bore you with the mundane cliches society dishes out in the back pages of their suburban newspapers "Get home a few days before the alarm clock strikes 5am on Monday morning" or "Prepare your to-do lists for your first week back a week before you leave"

Just writing that made me cower in shame it’s such commonplace and banality, what I can suggest, is to not rip the ass out of your holiday.  Taking a three week break over the festive season is not a hall pass to drunken binges, overindulgence and physical abuse.  You have worked all year (or at least the last three months to get that body, beach ready) to throw it all away because its ‘the season to be jolly’ besides the physical side effects of debauchery, the new year’s guilt is enough to send you spiralling back into old habits.

In no way am I suggesting you spend your vacation feeding off rabbit food and sipping luke warm water.

You deserve a little luxury and a little personal spoil; after all, you’ve worked your ass off all year to look good for the next few weeks.  I am merely suggesting you do things in moderation, not only for your physical well being but to aid you in a smooth transition from holiday to office boardroom.

Using your holiday as a break from your realities ensures that when it’s time to get back to the grind stone, you are rested, energized and even amped to grab the bull by the horns come first day back at the office.   Nine times out of ten we set ourselves resolutions that entail goals in health and success in one way or another, which reminds me, gym owners, brace yourselves, the new years resolution gym members are coming.

Why not kick off your year of new beginnings in a healthy state of mind, rejuvenated, restored and determined as opposed to hung over, jaded and exhausted.