A different way to move through January

Welcome to 2026–a year still young, fresh and completely innocent. Likely just a few hours old as you read these words. And yet, January 1st comes with a strong message. A message in a familiar and rather loud tone: Set goals, anything is possible. Reinvent yourself! Now!

You may or may not agree with me that, at this point, winter requires something other than speed or reinvention. I believe that without a strong foundation (mental, physical, and emotional capacity), the boldest plans are like storming off to cross the Alps without considering when best to go, what to pack, or how to prepare for the mountain weather. And in the depths of winter, our reserves are naturally at their lowest.

Unlike what capitalism teaches, I really don’t think it’s motivation or discipline that makes January goals “fail”. (Research consistently shows that most of them dissolve within weeks.) I don’t think we’re incapable; we’re asking our wintering bodies and nervous systems to perform renewal almost overnight, literally as soon as the clock turns 12:01 am on January 1st, we run.

I would love to remind us all that we don’t have to follow trends, rules, or the “this is just how it’s done” mentality, as humans, and especially as women. We are the leaders of our lives, can reclaim our own timeline and choose to begin when it feels natural, not because the calendar says so. We can shift the story and feel truly empowered, rather than hurried. I don’t mean we need to cancel January for this, no, rather, I propose we approach it differently?

The reason I’m saying all this is not to be a rebel, haha. In many seasonal traditions, the true turning point of winter isn’t January, but Imbolc, celebrated in early February and known as the subtle threshold marking the first stirrings of life beneath the surface (like sprouts growing roots before they shoot up).

Shifting our perspective means that nothing is asked to grow or “perform”; we tend through warmth, protecting energy, and listening closely to our inner world right now. With that in mind, January is for orientation and becomes part of a true rest period. A time and space where capacity is restored, clarity is gathered, and seasonal leadership™ begins internally, long before anything is visible on the outside. We notice what draws our attention before deciding what deserves our energy in the months to come.

“We listen, and we don’t judge”, a silly social media trend we could actually apply to our own dreams and inner truth in January.

I know that for some people, structure and goals in January are genuinely grounding, and if that’s you, there’s nothing wrong with that at all. Perhaps those in the southern hemisphere have an easier time? January is a valid calendar marker, just not a universal biological or psychological one for everyone.

And for those who feel they need a different approach, listening inward in January isn’t about waiting endlessly for clarity to arrive; it’s not about being passive. We’re creating just enough inner space, capacity, to notice what matters, before committing our energy outward again. You see, resting in winter doesn’t postpone or limit action in any way; it prepares the whole body, our whole being, for it.

I love history, and you might wonder why, if January wasn’t the start of the year originally, we ended up here. In short, January 1st became the beginning of the year in ancient Rome for political and military reasons; it aligned leadership transitions with the timing of war campaigns. (I know, not very romantic at all!)

Furthermore, Great Britain and its American colonies didn’t adopt the Gregorian calendar until 1752. Feels quite “recent” in the grand scheme of things, doesn’t it? Before that, New Year’s Day was celebrated on March 25, close to the spring equinox, a timing that reflected older, seasonal rhythms rather than the modern mid-winter reset. Lastly, many cultures, historically and still today, mark the beginning of the year in spring or even in autumn, around the end of October and beginning of November (thresholds associated with harvest, descent into darkness, and the more introspective months).

Instead of rushing into action and January-madness like a headless chicken, do whatever you feel is right for your context in January and become part of The Rest Revolution.

This is what came up as I tried to really simplify my thoughts:
FROM → TO
Hustle → orientation + calibration
Productivity shame → value + vision
Worth measured by January outputs → desired outcome-based commitment

If you run a business, have a job or life that requires you to return to full pace on January 2nd, can you be gentle with yourself? Honour your continuous need for more sleep and rest in whatever shape or form is possible without putting pressure on yourself. Personally, I try to avoid scheduling any important presentations or exhausting business travels in January, for example. In 90% of the cases, it works.

Just as farmers and those lucky with gardens slowly start seeding ideas, making plans for planting and preparing for spring and summer, we can follow along, dreaming first, then slowly setting a vision.

If you desire some prompts to get started: What and why do you desire xxx in 2026? How do you know you’ll have reached it? What does it feel like to “arrive there”? Explore, without narrowing down too much.

As a New Year’s gift, I’m sharing with you an idea for how to bring some fun into the year, how to add a bit of structure yet let your creativity go wild.

Remember, whatever you choose to “do” in January, let it be your own experience based on what you need right now. Adapt or simplify things so they work for your life, family, community or even culture.

Share your experience and approach in the poll or comments below so we can learn from one another.

Leave a comment

If January feels more like a time for listening than sprinting to you, too, the Winter Companion was made for you. It’s a 45-page seasonal guide with reflective questions, rituals, and grounding practices to support rest, clarity, and inner leadership during winter (obviously without all the pressure, unnecessary productivity hacks, or forced reinvention).

You can enjoy it over the coming days and weeks; it’s not a to-do list, more a pick and choose PDF, a friend throughout the rest of winter, supporting you in creating enough inner space for the right intentions to emerge naturally.

Use WELLRESTEDWOMAN for 10% off 💛

P.S. Do you also have a “guiding word” for the year?
Last year, it came to me later in January. Two actually. They were wonderful reminders, my north star, for anything I committed to in 2025. Let us know what’s yours in the comments

Winter greetings from the Alps,

Carmen

Hi, if you’re new here, or have been forwarded the email, thank you for reading until the end. I’m an experience designer, consultant, and writer, exploring the intersection of wellbeing, creativity, ritual, and (self-) leadership. I create seasonal companions that guide women like you toward rest, reflection, and embodied connection through the changing year, remembering this lost art that already lives within. You’re invited to join the reader community by subscribing and reading more about me and my ever-evolving work here.