After the whirlwind of the holiday season, January can feel like a deep breath—a time to pause, reflect, and reset. What if we embraced this slower pace instead of rushing headfirst into resolutions? The start of a new year offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the past, plan, and realign our priorities with intention.

At the same time, January often comes with its own challenges. After the festivities, indulgences, and socialising of the holidays, many of us can feel the need to retreat, rest, and reset. It's easy to judge ourselves for not "getting started" quickly enough or diving into our goals with full force. But what if this quieter, slower season is exactly what we need?

Rest and Reflection

Much of the natural world embraces winter as a time for hibernation. The longer nights and colder weather draw us inward, making this an ideal season for reflection and renewal. A time to be in motion; planning, preparing, and envisioning, rather than rushing into action. This process is normal, and there’s no need to judge ourselves for taking things slow.

Personally, this first week of January has aligned with a reflective stage in my menstrual cycle, encouraging me to lean into rest and introspection. Instead of fighting against this need, I’ve embraced it as a time to restore and recharge before stepping into the busier months ahead.

Embracing a Slower Pace

January is also a perfect time to prepare for the year ahead in small but meaningful ways. For me, this looks like cooking large, nutritious meals and restocking my freezer for the days when life feels less organized. Its cozy evenings spent wrapped in a blanket with a hot drink, my new journal, and a clear(ish) schedule. This kind of intentional downtime is a form of self-care that sets a positive tone for the rest of the year.

Planning brings me joy, so I’ve been mapping out important dates for 2025. So far, my fresh diary is filling up with exciting milestones like a baby shower, 80th birthday celebrations, a sunny holiday, and Holy Communions. I also reflect on how I can improve my daily balance, adjusting my work, business, and leisure time to ensure I stay focused but also make space for rest.

Habits That Serve vs. Hinder

As part of my reflection, I’ve been looking back on the habits that supported me in 2024, and those that didn’t. This kind of honest evaluation helps me set realistic intentions for the months ahead.

Habits That Served Me in 2024:

• Weekly sea dipping 
• Journaling, even if it’s just one line each evening
• Prioritizing self-care, like skincare routines and regular stretching classes
• Daily walks and monitoring my energy balance (food intake vs. output)

Habits That Didn’t Serve Me:

• Keeping alcohol or sweet things in the house "just in case"
• Falling into TV binges
• Skipping breaks at work
• Overlooking daily movement

Planning for Wellness in 2025

One of my guiding questions for this year is: How can I best meet my needs while keeping my key pillars of wellness Movement, Nutrition, Sleep, and Stress Management in balance?

By focusing on these foundational areas, I feel more capable of meeting life’s demands without sacrificing my well-being. For example:

• Movement: Walks, weight training, running, rebounding, and stretching.
• Nutrition: Batch cooking, eating in season, variety and fresh as I can get.
• Sleep: Regularly prioritising a good night’s sleep, being curious about when I don’t.
• Stress Management: Regular sea dips, journalling, taking breaks, spending time with loved ones

Gratitude and Forward Thinking

Finally, I wrap up this reflective process with gratitude. Whether I’m celebrating progress or learning from repeated lessons, I try to honour the journey and acknowledge the growth. This positive mindset makes it easier to transition from reflection to action when the time feels right.

What questions and reflections guide you at this time of year? If you, like me, enjoy using this season to think ahead, take a moment to consider:

• Which habits supported your well-being in 2024?
• What habits held you back?
• How can you honour your body’s needs and create a sustainable plan for 2025?

Here’s to embracing a slower pace and building a healthful, happy year ahead. Let’s rest, reflect, and plan with intention to be aligned, productive and prosperous in 2025!