Ryder last month declined a central contract from New Zealand Cricket, choosing instead to take the winter off to work through some well-publicised personal issues.
But the mercurial batsman, speaking today while promoting his fight with radio host Mark Watson on the undercard on next month's Shane Cameron fight, hoped his hiatus from the Black Caps would come to an end sooner rather than later.
"This was never about taking the year off and completely not doing cricket," he said. "I just wanted a little bit of a break to try new things. Once summer comes around, I love the game, so I'll be raring to go."
Ryder has had battles with the bottle throughout his four years in the Black Caps, most recently being censured for breaking a self-imposed alcohol ban after an ODI defeat to South Africa in Napier in March.
After playing in last month's Indian Premier League, Ryder announced he intended to step away from the media glare involved with being a Black Cap.
He said today he had lost his love for the game, and that was his main motivation in declining a contract from NZC.
"I just didn't enjoy it so I wanted to get that enjoyment back. I don't want to just continue my career going along and not enjoying it because then it doesn't show performance on the field. The goal was get back, get fit, get back into enjoying it, and once that's all good I'll be good to go."
- Kris Shannon of APNZ
