Read all about my strategies for taking a rest over the upcoming christmas break. These include looking back at the year you've had, considering the benefits of an "at-home" holiday and taking the time to connect with yourself. Start 2011 with renewed optimism by creating a context for the upcoming year!

• In the holiday season, what are your priorities?

To re-charge! That means creating a stress free holiday if I can. This is made somewhat harder when you're a blind mother of two teenage boys but this year my younger son has made it easy! He's going away camping with a friend's family. At first I was affronted by the fact that he wanted to go camping with them - not with us - but then I thought "how can I see this as a good thing?" It is good on two counts - he's getting to spread his wings and do something different and I am getting an increased opportunity to re-charge! In fact - this year we are having an at home holiday. While it seems a somewhat dull answer to the much asked question "Are you going away?" the thought of doing not much in the space I call home is starting to have increased appeal. Why not try it - and have an at home holiday!
 
• What would an alternative holiday look like for you?

I think the word holiday has to stand out there. Because my year is so full of people and being "in service" it's really important that my holiday looks quite different to the rest of my year. An alternative holiday for me means doing things that I have to give up in the year - simple things like having a coffee with my partner, going to the movies with my sister, taking a picnic or staying overnight with a friend who I don't normally get to see during the year. Enduring friendships don't always require constant contact - they just require contact so an alternative holiday for me would be the opportunity to connect with people I don't get to connect with during the year! See - I can't help myself - even in my down time I want to connect with people! That's a note to self - make sure one of those people I connect with is me!
 
• What do you do to prepare for the oncoming year?

I always start the year by looking back. I have a spreadsheet where I load up significant events or achievements that took place throughout the year. If I don't - I can easily overlook the achievements I've made and miss out on the opportunity to celebrate all that has taken place. The 2010 year for me began with a speaking tour to Melbourne, speaking to women affected by the bush fires, and ended up by hosting my own radio show called "The Cooking Without Looking Show. - with a whole host of stuff, including meeting and speaking to NZ's PM,  in between. All you need to do is sit down with a pen and paper or in front of your computer and write down a list of significant things that have happened in your year. Go on - you can do it! You'll probably surprise yourself? And if you don't - see how you can make the year ahead different.

Create a context for the upcoming year, too - this is an over-arching, broad statement that will describe how you want your next year to be. I've written "spreading my wings" for 2011 - a statement that sees me heading overseas with my speaking. Other contexts may be - peaceful, in harmony, soaring high, taking big risks - a statement that often describes how you want your year to be.

It's important to look forward to 2011 with increased optimism - remember what Helen Keller said - "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement!"

About the author

Julie is now a professional speaker and is a member of the National Speakers Association of New Zealand. As an inspirational speaker, Julie speaks to conferences, AGMs, community groups and schools. In October 2008, she made the top speakers and top topic list at the Coach Mecca conference held for Australasian coaches in Queenstown. Julie has self-published a book called "How to Make a Silver Lining" which details the story of her journey through blindness - from the Hospital Waiting Room to the Celebrations of her 10 years blind party.