A Season for Slow Beginnings

Stepping into the New Year has always felt a little awkward for me. There’s something about the crispness of January mornings, the short days, and the quiet stillness of winter that doesn’t scream “new beginnings” or “fresh starts.” Instead, it feels like a season meant for slowing down, resting, healing, and reflecting. A time to move with more intention and less ambition.

I’m setting goals instead of resolutions for the New Year — I’m a big fan of goals over resolutions. Resolutions feel like strict rules I have to follow and then I get discouraged and give up on them when I mess up. Goals feel softer and more forgiving. It changes my outlook to a long term game instead a short term struggle.

For years, I wondered why I struggled to muster the motivation or energy to tackle New Year’s resolutions. Why did I feel more inspired to dive into projects and make changes come spring? This year, I decided to dig deeper, and what I discovered made everything click into place.

Historically, many cultures didn’t celebrate the New Year in January. Instead, they associated the new year with spring—when life begins to stir, flowers bloom, and the world awakens from its slumber. This alignment with nature resonates so deeply with me. Spring, with its energy of renewal and growth, feels like the perfect time to blossom, to step out with fresh energy and tackle big goals.

And my own pace in life mimics this. With winter in northern climates often meaning an inability to get outside due to icy sidewalks and sub-zero chills, my winter habits lean toward gentle indoor stretching and rest with spring gardening being my foray back into walking and outdoor exercise.

It turns out, there’s science behind this feeling. Researchers have found that during the darker, colder months, our bodies naturally crave rest. Reduced daylight impacts our circadian rhythms, often lowering serotonin levels and increasing melatonin production, which can make us feel more tired and introspective. Experts recommend leaning into this slower pace rather than fighting it, as prioritizing rest and gentle routines can improve mood, support immune health, and foster mental clarity.

But that leaves winter, these cold and dark months, feeling a bit aimless. For so long, I tried to force myself to conform to the January 1st mentality—pushing through with big resolutions, only to feel burned out or unfulfilled by the time February rolled around. This year, I’ve decided to approach things differently.

One of my resolutions is to be truer to myself and my natural rhythms. Instead of fighting against the season, I’m embracing it. Winter is my time for quiet introspection, for dreaming, for laying the foundation of what’s to come. I’m choosing to start my year with a gentler tone—slowing down, reflecting on what matters most, and building sustainable patterns and rhythms that will carry me through the entire year.

This doesn’t mean I lack ambition. Quite the opposite. My goals for this year are big and meaningful. But I want the pursuit of those goals to feel intentional, not rushed. I’m not interested in sprinting into the year, only to collapse halfway through. Instead, I want to set a pace that feels nourishing, allowing me to flourish not just in spring but throughout every season.

Winter, I’ve realized, isn’t aimless. It’s a time of preparation. Beneath the surface of the frozen ground, seeds are nestled, waiting for their moment to sprout. This quiet season is where the magic begins—where dreams are planted, plans are made, and intentions are set.

So if you, like me, feel out of step with the “New Year, New Me” energy of January, know that you’re not alone. Maybe it’s time to honor the rhythm of the seasons and give yourself permission to move a little slower.

To rest. To reflect. To dream.

I hope you dream big this year then turn those dreams into reality!!!

Spring will come soon enough, bringing its surge of energy and renewal. For now, I’m choosing to savor the stillness of winter, to embrace the quiet, and to step into the year with intention.

Here’s to a year of growth, balance, and blooming in our own time.