Don't wait till January! (And yes I do say this every year).

Many years ago, and for a good few years in a row, I overconsumed on all the sugary, easy to grab and addictively tasty stuff from about mid November (my birthday month) until every last Christmas chocolate had been eaten, believing I could "make up for it in January".

It obviously never worked and instead I'd end up miserable, bloated, hungry and absolutely exhausted by mid January.

Drink in hand, I'd plan my next restrictive and unrealistic "diet and exercise plan", and launch myself into a ridiculous regime as soon as the new year began. I clearly remember that feeling of determination and absolute confidence that "this was the year".

I still don't really know what it was going to be the year for. Although I do remember wishing my boobs and feet were smaller...

At the time, my world was filled with magazines full of diet plans, calorie counting and unrealsitic levels of control over the way I ate. Every month there was a new miracle weight loss plan, and I have to be honest, I loved reading those magazines and I fell for it over and over again.

The irony is that when the time came for me to realise that none of it made sense and that it was actually pointless and unhealthy for me in so many ways, it was also the time that I began to look and feel healthier than ever.

It was never a weight thing. It was a skin and eyes and posture and confidence and contentment thing. It was a steadiness in my breathing, a stronger insight into what I really needed to feel my best, it was ditching a few negative habits, and it was a calmer approach to everything that happened in my life.

When my focus moved away from being a particular size towards being fit and healthy, I did naturally shrink a little. But that wasn't really what I cared about anymore. Because what I really benefited from was was joy and freedom in what I cooked and ate, which in turn allowed me to take proper care of my digestive system (which is an absolute must if you want to feel your best).

Unsurprisingly the root of this was yoga, and everything that comes with this incredible, ancient health system. Yoga teaches us that healthy living isn't about making huge changes that require a huge amount of "willpower" and an official starting point on a particular day. It teaches us to take care of ourselves every day and to adapt to how we are doing on that particular day.

To be as beneficial as it can be, the practise builds steadily in order to create a really strong and healthy foundation, and a regular practitioner cannot help but feel the positive yoga effect in all areas of their life, even if they don't realise it's happening at first.

So unlike me in the 90's (how is that so many years ago?!?!?), instead of waiting till January to take care of yourself, what about now? What can you do today?

Can you sleep a little earlier tonight?

Can you prepare a simple and nutritious meal with an extra vegetable or two that will feed you tomorrow as well so you don't have to cook twice?

Can you take five quiet minutes during your day to breathe fully and slowly to remind you how calm you can feel when you take time out?

Can you stretch that achey back or go for a quick walk during your lunchbreak?

I truly believe that if we start small, not only does it take away some of those feelings of overwhelm and feeling unsure where to begin, we also build some really solid, unshakeable strengths. If nothing else, the feeling of prioritising your health feels so positive and empowering.

If you feel ready to make a start, but also like you need some support to point you in the right direction, I've currently got 2 spaces for some calm, realistic and long-term-beneficial Nutrition & Wellbeing Coaching starting as soon as you can. Maybe it's your Christmas gift to yourself for a brighter and healthier 2026? Or maybe you've been thinking about it for a while and now just feels right.

It may not seem like it when you're in the midst of feeling fatigued and in need of a health overhauk, but I promise you that if you start small now, January won't feel like such a big deal because you'll already be doing it.

As always, I'd love to hear from you if you feel like any of this helps you or has given you inspiration to make a a start. Lynne x

Hello lovely reader,

Are you looking for some personalised wellbeing and reiki practitioner, offering classes, one to one wellbeing coaching, weekend women's wellness retreats in Sussex and mixed Yoga&Pilates retreats in Morocco, group mini retreats in Shoreham By Sea, and via zoom for those

who prefer to stay cosy at home, or aren't local to me.

I currently have 2 x spaces for one to one coaching in Shoreham or via zoom.

Get in touch directly if you are up for making a real and long lasting

difference to your wellbeing

Details of my classes, coaching and retreats are all on my

 or you can contact me directly on lynnejarrettyoga@gmail.com