Traditionally the time for new beginnings, resolutions and changes, you would have thought this would be the perfect time to launch a new coaching business, to join the barrage of ‘New Year, New You’ messages being banded around from gyms, diet clubs, Boots and the world of personal development alike.

Alas, with the time, resources and other commitments I had already waded into, it was not to be. But I’m not going to beat myself up about it.

For some people the start of a new year is a great opportunity to file away the last one and start over, with a sense of renewed energy and life. Others find it harder to get started. They know what they want to do or feel they should be doing, but find themselves lethargic, indecisive or procrastinating instead.

We tend to think that we just need a good kick to get started – we tell ourselves that once we get our lazy backsides down to the gym, we’ll feel better for it and it’ll get easier with time. And I must admit, a push in the right direction has sometimes done me the world of good, tapping into the persistent streak in me and getting me to strive for what I want. In fact, that was the only thing that enabled me to successfully transform my cardboard and clutter-filled house into a warm, furnished, lovely home for Christmas whilst warding off an impending flu bug.

However it can eventually, and often does, lead to a place of complete depletion, burnout.

It’s not nice to be constantly whipping someone to work harder. It hurts and sooner or later tends to lead to revolt. So why do we do it to ourselves?

What if your feeling of lethargy or indecision is trying to tell you something? What might that be?

Are there needs that need attention? Possibilities yet to be explored? Passions lying dormant? Fears or rants to be acknowledged? Or is what you ‘should’ be doing coming from somewhere (or someone) else entirely, and what you want to do is yet to be heard?

Take the time to listen to yourself. You might be surprised by how many positive, upbeat, decisive things you actually have to say.

For me, my sluggishness is telling me I need more sleep, and to take things slowly. I take a deep breath and am pleasantly surprised at how I suddenly feel ready to start moving. I smile and pick up leisurely pace as I walk along the first steps of my journey of 2008.