The Pre-2026 Gift

Post Christmas and pre-New Year, a few things can generally happen.

There may be the tidying of the house, catching up with friends, continuing to eat and drink, or trying to get a bit more sleep. We may even do the thing that we promised we wouldn't do and go into town for some sales shopping.

Photo by David Anthony on Unsplash

There is however an alternative. Even if you don't think of this lull or in between time as a gift, it can be. It can be a great time to take stock and gently move into not only, the new year, but YOUR new year. A year for really honouring yourself.

Here are 3 simple questions to help you with this process.

1. What do I want more of in my life? Or you consider – what went well this year that I'd like to continue with?
2. What do I want to let go of? It doesn't have to be big. Donating those clothes that no longer fit. Getting rid of the kitchen items that don't work properly. Or maybe realigning the wobbly boundaries that no longer serve you.
3. What is the gift that you're willing to give yourself? And is this daily, weekly, or monthly? Then get bold and creative. This is not selfish. It really opens you up to possibility. It could be buying the best coffee you can afford. Drinking more water. Eating more … (you decide). Going for a walk, or turning off distractions and reading a great book once in a while.

The gift asks you to imagine yourself as the most deserving person in the world. Then receiving and using your gift leads to an overflow that you can give to others.

Now all you have to do (and this can feel tough) is to do something really small about each of these 3 gifts, before 1^st January 2026.

Why is this important?

Because when we get into January there's a huge expectation of what we'll achieve. We can really get caught up in everyone else's doings and find that by the end of the month most people have given up on their goals, resolutions or whatever they're aiming for, and so have we.

Accepting the gift now in the lull, means that you'll simply keep unravelling more of it in and throughout the new year.

Photo by Evelina Kasparaitė on Unsplash

If you write your gift ideas on nice paper and put it in your diary, wallchart, purse or wallet and look at it often, you're more likely to feel gratitude for all you have. By evoking those feelings of doing something special, you're activating your brain to keep that memory alive.

You're saying 'I'm the kind of person who accepts & gives myself great gifts'.

What can then happen is that the more you invest in yourself, the more you'll meet 'Gift Givers' that naturally start investing in you.

This all takes courage, but this is the time, this lull is your time.

Main – Photo by Kari Shea on Unsplash