Are You Still Procrastinating on Your New Year’s Resolution? That’s Actually a Smart Thing!
Lately, our social media feeds have been flooded with content about turning our lives upside down right after the new year begins. Thousands of advertisements launch on January 1st, promising new beginnings with extreme diets, weight loss supplements, workout plans, and life-organizing hacks.
I admit, there were times when I also gave in to the “culture of now” and hustled my way into self-improvement right after waking up from a night of celebration. I spent the darkest and coldest time of the year pressuring myself into a huge calorie deficit, long cardio workouts, and obsessive habit-building. I pushed myself to study new things and do everything I could to "better" myself. But it took me years of unsuccessful new beginnings to realize that I was working against myself.
I didn’t know any better because, as humans, we tend to believe we can act against the odds and override the natural order of life. As we moved into cities and modernized our environments, we lost touch with nature’s cycles. We’ve extended daylight indefinitely with artificial lighting, disrupting our circadian rhythms. With a global food supply, we ignore seasonal eating. Because of the 24/7 hustle culture, we push ourselves to work year-round, often neglecting our body’s need for seasonal rest.
Why Do We Start the New Year in the Middle of Winter?
One of the things lost with the rise of civilization was the natural start of the year. Throughout history, different cultures aligned their New Year celebrations with nature’s cycles. Four thousand years ago, the Babylonians celebrated the New Year at the first new moon after the vernal equinox. In ancient Egypt and Phoenicia, the year began with the autumn equinox on September 21, while the Persians started their year on the vernal equinox on March 21. In the Roman Empire, the year originally began on March 1st, but in 153 BCE, it was moved to January 1st, likely to honor Janus, the Roman god of beginnings. After centuries of shifting calendars and traditions, the Gregorian calendar solidified January 1st as the official New Year in 1582, and we never looked back.
Despite these changes, the practice of setting resolutions stuck. But while reflection and self-improvement are valuable, does forcing drastic change in the middle of winter make sense? Instead of trying to transform during a season meant for rest, we could take the first quarter of the year to slow down, process the past, and set thoughtful intentions. Then, when spring arrives with renewed energy, we can step into change in a way that feels natural and sustainable.
If You Haven’t Set Goals Yet—Good News!
As I mentioned earlier, if you haven’t set any big goals yet—that’s actually a good thing! It probably means you’ve avoided the exhaustion that comes from forcing change at the wrong time. Instead of pushing through fatigue and fighting against your body’s natural rhythms, you now have the chance to approach transformation with ease and intention.
With a few weeks left until the vernal equinox, this is the perfect time to turn inward. Use this transitional period for self-reflection, gentle planning, and setting intentions that truly align with you. Instead of rushing into change, allow yourself to prepare for a season of renewal—one that feels natural, not forced.
A Gentle Guide to Easing Into the New Year
1. Reflect Before You Reset – Take some quiet time to journal about the past year. What worked? What didn’t? What lessons did you learn? Self-awareness is the first step toward meaningful change.
2. Prioritize Rest & Nourishment – Winter is a season of restoration. Support your body with warm, grounding meals, plenty of sleep, and gentle movement. Your energy will naturally rise as spring approaches.
3. Align Goals With Your Energy – Instead of forcing big changes now, start setting intentions for what you’d like to embrace once nature awakens. Focus on habits that feel sustainable long-term rather than extreme resolutions.
4. Clear Out the Old – Use this time to declutter—physically and mentally. Let go of habits, thoughts, or physical items that no longer serve you, making space for new energy.
5. Welcome Spring With Small Action Steps – When the days get longer and your motivation naturally increases, ease into new habits. Start with small, manageable changes rather than an all-or-nothing approach.
