This update is based on the same monthly reflection I use to review my health, life, and self-care — a simple process of noticing what the month has already revealed rather than setting new targets
Hi, it’s Jo
If you’re anything like me, December often isn’t a month for big intentions or shiny new plans. It’s more a month of getting through, holding things steady, as self-care is rarely my main focus.
That’s why I chose maintenance as my theme this month.
I was about to start a two-week course of antibiotics as a SIBO/MCAS treatment and, rather than pushing myself with new self-care challenges, I wanted to give my body space. Fewer demands. More listening. As it turned out, the treatment itself was much easier than expected — which was a useful reminder that anticipation is often harder on the nervous system than the thing itself.
What a maintenance month actually showed me
One thing December made very clear is how differently progress looks in a maintenance phase.
There was no sense of “moving forward” in obvious ways — but there was a sense of not slipping backwards, and that matters more than we often give credit for.
It also highlighted something I’ve noticed before, but always appreciate being reminded of:
Emotional nourishment doesn’t automatically take care of the body.
This month, writing, planning, and working on ideas lifted my mood and gave me direction. Emotionally, that part felt good.
But there was a trade-off.
All that mental and creative energy quietly distracted me from the basics — things like my much needed regular movement self-care. Not in a dramatic way. Just enough to notice, afterwards, that my body had been a bit sidelined while my mind was happily occupied elsewhere.
Having a system to notice these patterns has been so helpful, not as more problems to fix, but to understand how to support myself better moving forward.
A messy (and slightly funny) moment
December also brought a string of home repairs, one after another. No heating. Blocked drains. An extractor fan that chose the worst possible moment to give up.
None of these were disasters on their own — but together they created a series of low-level stress that sits in the body even when you’re trying to be philosophical about it.
At one point I remember thinking, “Of course it’s this as well.”
And then laughing, because sometimes that’s the only sensible response.
Those tiny moments — a flicker of humour, a softening — are often what I think of as glimmers: small signals of safety that don’t fix the day, but change how the body carries it.
It was stressful — and oddly funny — and a good example of how practical stress can be far more taxing than emotional drama.
What were your challenges in December?
The pattern that stood out
Looking back, the clearest pattern from December was this:
A series of small, unexpected, unresolved things going wrong (at the same time) drains my system more than I realised
Everyone has months like this. What I noticed was that this drained me more than I expected. That is not a problem, it’s understanding that in these situations my nervous system needs more support. Feedback, then insight this month makes it easier to recognise next time it happens, so I can adjust my self-care support earlier.
That’s useful information. Not a judgement. Just awareness for me to work with.
Tracking doesn’t have to be perfect to be useful. This is simply how I notice patterns before reflecting in a fun easy way
What maintenance supported
By choosing maintenance rather than pushing forward, December quietly supported:
- steadier energy overall
- fewer exaggerated reactions
- better recovery after stress
- less pressure to “do self-care properly”
None of this is headline-worthy — but this is often what a supportive month looks like.
Sometimes progress is simply not making things harder than they already are.
What I’m carrying into January 2026
December reminded me that there are different seasons of self-care.
Some months are for experimenting.
Some are for building.
And some are for maintaining and repairing.
As I move into January, my self-care focus will lean towards gentle nervous system repair balanced with my existing gentle movement practice.
Listening to my body each month naturally shows me what the next step should be. Not what is popular or new or fascinating, but which self-care my body needs next.
A quiet closing thought
If you’ve had a month where maintenance felt like all you could manage, you’re not behind.
Holding steady is a skill.
Listening instead of pushing is self-care.
I’ll share more next month as things unfold — and as always, take what’s useful and leave the rest.
Check out November Update
If this way of approaching self-care resonates, you’re welcome to explore it alongside others in my free community.
