This time of year is often portrayed as a time of familiar rituals. Families gather around a table; the same decorations are pulled out each year; a favourite recipe passed through generations; a beach trip; a cricket match. A sense of shared rhythm and predictability. Sometimes we may not be in our hometown where those familiar traditions are happening, which can be a weight lifted as well as a heavy load carried. Traditions can anchor us when we are far from family, when the work we do is heavy, and the community is small. But even our most cherished traditions can become restricting when our capacity changes.
There is wisdom in pausing to ask ourselves which traditions fill our cup and nourish us, and which ones we hold onto out of habit or expectation, and whether they take a lot out of our cup. Sometimes, the part of us that once enjoyed those big gatherings now longs for stillness. Another part might crave connection, but in a different way. Our inner landscape shifts, and it’s natural for our traditions to shift with it.
Working in remote places teaches us that adaptability is a strength. We already adapt our routines around weather, rosters, and distance. This season may invite us to reshape our traditions, too. Letting go or softening does not mean failure. It means we are evolving and acting with self-compassion.
As you prepare for the New Year ahead, I invite you to take a slow, reflective breath and ask: What do I really need? Which traditions fill my cup, and which ones empty it a bit too much? What small changes would bring more ease? It might be shortening an event, sharing a load, choosing a simple meal, making some telephone calls rather than trips, or, as I have done, a ‘no present but presence’ year. Create a brand-new ritual that fits the person you are now.
If you are working through the holidays, consider a workplace tradition that you could bring in that adds warmth rather than pressure: a gratitude note in the tea room, a two-minute grounding practice, some shared food, or a shared moment of kindness. Even the smallest ritual can steady a tired team.
Remember, too, that we are here on the Bush Support Line, 24/7, every day of the year, to provide support and a listening ear.
May the year ahead offer you permission to keep what fills your cup, release what burdens it, and welcome new rhythms that support your wellbeing. And may your traditions, old or new, meet you gently where you are.
Stay brave, curious, and kind.
MC Mandile (she/her)
Senior Psychologist, Bush Support Line
