A Moment of Rest Before the New Year
December 23, 2024
Thank you for joining the Better Together Newsletter! This bi-weekly newsletter is dedicated to sharing insights into applied sport psychology and science-based tools that can aid us as sport psychology professionals in helping athletes, teams, and coaches enhance their performance and well-being. The goal is to deliver actionable insights in a concise and engaging format, making it easy for you to apply them in your work in sports.
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve noticed something—not just in the people around me, but in myself as well. Many of us seem to be eagerly, some even desperately, waiting for December to end. The demands of life and work over the past weeks and months have taken their toll, sometimes slowly, and sometimes all at once.
When I reflect on my own year, I can honestly say that rest hasn’t been a priority for me. And I know that’s not something to be proud of. Yet, despite the fatigue, I felt it was important to write this newsletter. After all, I didn’t want to miss the chance to connect with you, even if it’s the day before Christmas (and let’s be honest, how many newsletters actually get read today?). But here you are, reading this—thank you for taking the time.
As I thought about what to share with you today, a few ideas came to mind. In the end, I decided to focus on something I believe is important for all of us – not only as sport psychology professionals.
Let’s get better together…
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
THOUGHTS OF THE WEEK
If you’re anything like me, you might enjoy lounging around at home in your comfiest pair of pants. For me, in winter, it’s a cozy pair from Ryzon, a wonderful sustainable sportswear company from my hometown of Cologne, Germany (no affiliation). When I got these pants a couple of years ago, I discovered a little sentence printed in the left pocket:
If you can’t read it (the pocket cuts off the first word and last letter), the full sentence is:
“May we always find the courage to rest.”
As I write this newsletter, I can’t help but feel that this simple message is exactly what so many of us need right now. Taking time off, pausing to breathe, and giving our minds a moment of rest before we dive back into our responsibilities—whether it’s supporting athletes, teams, and coaches or other clients, preparing for exams, finishing a project, caring for our families, transitioning jobs, or managing all of it at once.
“May we always find the courage to rest.”
Today, I will not share more with you because I believe it is the right time to rest and recharge our batteries before we start the new year with renewed energy and enthusiasm (and the newsletter will be as long as it usually is again).
For now, if you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, or simply embracing this season of reflection and renewal, I wish you Happy Holidays and a wonderful start to the new year. May your days be filled with joy, health, and everything you wish for yourself and those around you.
…and now, I’ll be courageous and wish that you can be, too.
Thank you.
CHUCK NORRIS JOKE OF THE WEEK
When Chuck Norris rests, time stops out of respect.
