It’s not new year.
January is one big doorway.
January is a transition month. It’s not the start of my year.
It’s the beginning of the calendar year, but when I look around me, when I feel my own tiredness and my own energy. I don’t feel the “new year, new me vibes” yet. Far from it.
This is not new year in the way we are sold it. Go for a walk and look at the naked trees and ask them if it’s new year? They’ll laugh their branches off at you. Of course it’s not the new year yet! It’s absolutely freezing.
My year starts properly in February. When we come out of the depths of winter and can turn towards Spring.
January is one big doorway we are all walking through. One foot is across the threshold but the rest of your body hasn’t made it across yet. You’re in transition. From 2025 to 2026.
I’ve taken this approach to new year for the last few years and it’s helped me a lot to quell any new year anxiety. That feeling that grows over the Christmas period in the unknown of it all where I’d start feeling anxious about my new year goals. I’d start ruminating over how I was going to be really successful in the new year, all the things I’d do. I noticed I was never doing this goal setting or reflecting from a place of fun and creativity, it was always fear-fuelled planning with a Jan 1st deadline. Pointless.
I like creating new year intentions, goals and resolutions. I have made them. Crucially, they are still in draft. I’m not locking them in until February 1st. I’m going to keep letting January confuse me, let myself arrive into 2026 some more and then, only then, will I stride head first into 2026.
Until then, I’ll use January to remember what I do, who I am and notice what old patterns from last year are still with me. What do I want to leave behind in 2026? What’s not coming through the doorway with me? And, I’ll use January to really listen to and observe what’s emerging for me - what seeds have been planted? If I look beneath the frozen earth, which ones are sprouting? Once I’m through the doorway, where do I want to go?
If you’ve landed in January and you feel lethargic. If you feel the January blues. If you “just hate January” or the “weather gets you down”. I’d reframe your expectations. Don’t resist Winter. Perhaps this isn’t your new year yet either, maybe you need to hunker down a little longer. Come out of your cave properly in Feb and start your new year then, with me.
Happy New Year.
James x
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I work 1:1 with Founders as a mentor, advisor, coach and brand builder. High level on the business and deep on storytelling and brand. Find out more.
Love it. I've also done more of this as the years go on. Smart and wise.
Thanks for the encouragement. I needed this post. ❤️