If your new year mojo already seems a long way behind you, you’re not alone. The “February slump” is easily explainable; the cumulative effects of winter, the respite of the festive break well and truly forgotten, and the dreary weather not helping.

This month marks the spring equinox, the astronomical start of Spring. Perhaps now is the time to implement some changes to help us feel more energised?  Sometimes this is sensible, especially if we feel like hibernating, but sometimes we can feel impatient for the energy of a new start, and that impatience can soon turn into frustration. Instead of waiting for external factors to change, there are some simple habits that we can adopt right now to help us feel more optimistic, more energetic and like we are actually making some progress.

They are some simple, positive strategies and once we start using them, they can open up a whole new perspective, as well as make us feel better instantaneously.

We may not be able to change all the big things, but we can do the little things that not only help us to prepare for bigger changes later, but that also give us the momentum to pick ourselves up out of that February Funk, and with spring officially here (at least according to the stars!) it is the perfect time to create some new beginning energy.

Say yes

So often in life we get into the habit of saying no. Sometimes a “No” is useful to conserve our energy and to ensure we put our focus on what we need. But, too many Nos can mean we get stuck in rigid patterns, and that we get bored and demotivated. Try for the rest of this month to say yes to things; a new opportunity at work, a social event, an activity with friends, to chatting to someone new, to a suggestion. See what it brings you; it may help you to learn something about yourself, to meet new people and to try new things. Research shows that doing things that are out of our comfort zone allow us to build confidence, self-esteem, a sense of belonging and to enlarge our support network. See everything as an adventure and a “what if?” and see where it takes you. Wherever it is, it will always be sprinkled with new beginning energy.

Say thank you

Science has shown consistently that gratitude improves our wellbeing; it reduces stress, and it boosts our good-feeling chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. There has also been some evidence that it strengthens our immune system and reduces inflammation in our bodies, as well as strengthening our relationships, a key safety net for our health. It is all too easy to allow our neural pathways (the brain cell networks) to be used to negative statements, thoughts and expectations. But we can break a habit and rewire our brains to focus on being thankful, for noticing the good stuff and vocalising appreciation. Saying thank you to people around you sparks a lot of new beginning energy; it allows that person to feel good and reciprocate, it opens up conversations and behaviours that mean you spend more time together, and it allows a different dynamic to exist between you and the world. It is amazing what opportunities may come from shifting your mindset from what you haven’t got, to what you have. Being grateful can also mean that you don’t approach opportunities with the energy of scarcity and pressure that the outcome must be successful, which can change the very outcome itself.

Tidy up

New beginning energy can come from inside you when you choose to tidy up old chapters, issues and tensions. You can get a lot of relief by sorting out old arguments, taking responsibility for your part in something, saying sorry, or forgiving someone. Take a bit of time this month to sort out anything from the past which is still on your mind. In doing so, you will be ready to invite that new beginning energy into your mind and your life. The same applies to your physical space; sorting out wardrobes, giving things you no longer want to charity, organising any mess in your home, and giving everything a bit of a once-over can really help your psyche to be ready for new starts.

Use the ‘fresh start’ effect

When we anticipate a new chapter, we can benefit from what psychologists call the “fresh start effect”. Just anticipating a new start can actually increase our motivation for goal-setting and pursuit. Take a bit of time this month to work out what kind of fresh start you want and why you would like to bring it into your life; get specific, what would be the advantages/what are the obstacles/what actions might you have to take to get there? When we write things down and get focused on them, we are much more likely to take action towards them.