I am one of those over-zealous planners who salivates at the thought of a new calendar and the possibility of planning out the new year. I purchase my trusty Moleskine calendar plus my wall calendars in September so that come the new year – scratch that, come the day after Christmas – I’m ready to begin planning for the year ahead. One of the first things I enter into my new Moleskine is for the 1st of September…when I remind myself to buy my new planner and calendars for the coming year. Obsessive much?
As someone with ideas galore and a surplus of dreams I’d like to pursue, not to mention being someone who relies on visual and aesthetic organization in order to function well, I become giddy about fresh blank spaces where the workings of my mind can take shape. I also need our family’s schedule written down somewhere in order to help me make decisions about what we can and cannot say ‘yes’ to throughout the year. With each passing year I find it more vital to carve out margin in my calendar and leave space for rest, the unknown, and the spontaneous.
That being said, normally the week between Christmas and New Year’s is one of my favourites. Full of rest and leftovers and planning. I usually use this week to plan out my year in advance, enter important dates into my calendars, and organize my creative vision for the year with regards to work, homeschool, and my own personal pursuits. This year, however, has been different.
This year I felt a distinct nudge to hold off on leaping into the new year with a burst of energy (often short-lived if I’m being honest). Instead, I leaned into the urge to take my cue from nature, wherein winter is a time of dormancy, stillness, and rest. Nature does not create year-round, it takes a break in order to produce its best work at a later date. And so I’ve lingered in the Christmas season longer than normal. It’s New Year’s Day and most of my Christmas decor is still up when normally I’m ready to clear it all away to make room for the fresh start I feel ready to pursue both mentally and physically. Instead, I’m lingering in the glow of the tree lights and Christmas village a little longer. The empty stockings and citrus garland still hanging on the mantle encourage me to reflect on the Christmas season that is coming to a close, rather than rush forth into a bright and shiny January. There are a few Christmas books I just picked up from the library that I’m still looking forward to reading. We are, after all, still within the 12 Days of Christmas, so why not!
While I did begin filling my planner in with important dates, I have held off on most of my planning and have decided to use the entire month of January to let my ideas marinate and to allow my brain and my body time to rest. I’m claiming February as the new January…for myself at least. Why not let my fresh start begin after I’ve had time to come down off of the Christmas high and have spent some time surrendering to the stillness of the season?
Of course real life still happens. I can’t just remain in that nebulous post-Christmas haze for another 4 weeks (although maybe next year I’ll give that a whirl!). So what will this season of surrender look like? Here’s what I’m prioritizing for the month of January:
- Early bedtimes so my body can recharge and get more sleep.
- Less sugar and more protein so I can fuel my body best.
- More time outdoors in order to take advantage of the light, which helps produce more Vitamin D, and also resets my circadian rhythms.
- Pared down social plans and ‘busy’ activities.
- Less screen time in order to minimize distractions, unnatural stimulation, and mental overwhelm.
If you could pick just one of these, or another focus entirely, what would you pursue? I hope the beginning of your new year is off to a gentle start.
Jaime
PS // I’ll be back on the blog in February to report on how this new treatment of January panned out. For weekly updates and more slow living inspiration and solutions, you can partake of my more regular musings by subscribing to my newsletter.
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