{"id":8445,"date":"2021-01-05T11:29:16","date_gmt":"2021-01-05T11:29:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/careers\/?p=8445"},"modified":"2021-01-05T11:56:30","modified_gmt":"2021-01-05T11:56:30","slug":"2021-a-new-start-and-a-gentle-january","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/careers\/2021-a-new-start-and-a-gentle-january\/","title":{"rendered":"2021: A New Start and A Gentle January"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve arrived, you\u2019re here \u2013 you\u2019ve survived 100% of 2020. You might feel a little exhausted by the experience, but you\u2019ve made it to 2021\u2026. now what?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Well, that\u2019s a very good question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I\u2019m ready for times to be precedented again. Thanks.”<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Although we may still feel very far from normality, the turn of the year has felt the right time to turn efforts to something new. If you\u2019ve been following our \u2018unprecedented\u2019 series, this isn\u2019t a line drawn under it, but a start of something new to inspire you and bring hope into your year ahead\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026 but before I announce that, I\u2019ll keep you in suspense for a few minutes longer. I madly wrote that before last night\u2019s lockdown announcement. This morning, I was sent the below from Michael Rosen\u2019s \u201cWe\u2019re Going on a Bear Hunt\u201d which feels very relevant right now:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can’t go over it.<\/em><\/p>

We can’t go under it.<\/em><\/p>

Oh no!<\/em><\/p>

We’ve got to go through it!<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

So I\u2019ll reflect briefly on something else I\u2019ve been pondering: Gentle January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

January is the busiest time (normally) for gyms, it\u2019s the keenest time for wannabe vegans (Veganuary) and post- New Years Eve, the great and good of resolutions are published. (And don\u2019t get me wrong, they are great and good).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, instead, I have a new challenge for you: gentle January. A month where you don\u2019t beat yourself up if by halfway through when the resolutions have gone out the window. (or for struggling with motivation today, after Boris\u2019 latest announcement last night). A month where you make the conscious effort to bring a gentleness into each day. A month where you can seek to give out and receive gentleness. Where you\u2019re gentle with others, and with yourself; whatever that may look like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talking of Gentle January, and preparing for the New Year, we have a workshop next week 2021: Your Year Ahead<\/a>, which you’re really welcome to. Book via this link. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst I\u2019ve heard it said that the first rule of 2021 is not to mention 2020, the reality is, it happened. It may have had joyful bits you want to choose to remember, but probably also carried some hard or heavy bits. Now\u2019s the time to be kind to yourself. To be gentle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what new series was I about to announce? The A-Z of Careers! Starting next Tuesday, over the following 26 weeks, we\u2019ll be travelling together through the alphabet, looking at each letter in relation to your future, and your career. We\u2019ll be looking at what actions you can take now, and things you can think about to be proactive and positive, and use this time thoughtfully. Do join us on this little journey, and if you have ideas, or things you want to see from us, do comment below! (We will also be doing other blogs through this time, but Tuesday blogs are A-Z blogs, and you\u2019ll be able to find them by the category at the top of the homepage).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting further support from The Careers and Enterprise Team at CCCU<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can get ongoing careers support via the following ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n