Written by: Nicole Dupuis, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
January is a funny month. It's a time for new and fresh starts, but also for returning and revisiting the same old sh... you get the idea. I have seen the memes on social media about how stressful January can be because everyone is, in fact, “circling back.” It is now after the holidays, after time off and vacations, after deadlines are over and large projects have been submitted. Budget decisions have been made and we enjoyed the feeling of metaphorically "closing up shop."
January comes around and we are back! Back as if nothing happened. And the expectation is we will be back with a furry. We will have fierce resolutions and ambitions lighting fires in our hearts and souls, a determination and focus that has been revitalized over the holiday break.
We are new, reborn, and ready for anything.
Are we? It seems like a lot of pressure on one month, a month that comes right after a particularly joyful but also exceptionally stressful and draining time of year.
The consensus from clients in just the first few days of this year’s January is unanimous. Everyone is tired. People aren’t back with a vengeance or tackling goals head-on. We all need a freaking minute.
And that is part of the season, part of winter. Many of us are experiencing, now or soon, snowfall, colder weather, and the first glimmers of winter. Winter is a season of going inward, hunkering down, relying on less, moving slower, and succumbing to feelings. In Katherine May’s appropriately titled book, Wintering, she describes:
“Plants and animals don’t fight the winter; they don’t pretend it’s not happening and attempt to carry on living the same lives that they lived in the summer. They prepare. They adapt. . . Winter is a time of withdrawing from the world, maximizing scant resources, carrying out acts of brutal efficiency, and vanishing from sight, but that’s where the transformation occurs.”
But what do we, as humans, do in winter? In January? We tell ourselves to drink more green juice, wake up earlier, and work out harder. We put performance reviews on the calendar and are encouraged to waste no time getting “back in the swing of things.”
I think it is great that we use January to turn a page, to start anew, and to hold ourselves to challenges. I also think it is beneficial to give ourselves the space to do what is natural at this time of year; to take more time.
If you find yourself in the push/pull of the January pressure, here are some suggestions on how to remain ambitious as this new year unfolds, but also be realistic and embrace its natural course.
A month of exploration
Use January as a month, not necessarily to start your healthy habits and get yourself on track, but to test drive what is going to work best. Interested in starting a meditation practice in 2024? Use January to read up on the subject, test out some guided meditation apps to see which one you like best, and try different times of the day to see if meditation is most beneficial in the morning or evening. This month can be a time to experiment so that you feel confident in your focus areas for the year because you have taken the time to cement what will serve you best.
A month of reflection
How many minutes have you spent reflecting on 2023? My guess is close to zero. It may seem frivolous, as we are a very forward-thinking society, but to be fully entrenched in where you are going, you need a strong grasp of where you have been. Use January as a time to pause and reflect. How did 2023 go? What happened? What did you accomplish? What didn’t happen that you wished had? What did you do that set you up for 2024? This could be more conceptual, reflecting on how you felt last year, or more specific, such as listing out the books or projects you completed and a key takeaway from each.
A month of you
There’s a really good chance that the end of last year was very much NOT about you. Whether you were focused on hosting the best holiday for your family, buying the right gifts for your team, or traveling to see clients to get that final deal locked in. Though we expect our motivation this month to be at an all-time high, from my direct observations, it is at an all-time low because we have given all the determined energy away to everything and everyone else. So take January to revisit you. Figure out what you need to start the year off right. Is it days off, more Facetime with your boss, more brainstorming time and fewer meetings, more comfort food, strength training, or bad television? Use this month to refill your cup.
A month of winter
The last suggestion is to treat January as nothing more than the first full month of winter. Engage in winter. Spend more time inside wrapped in blankets, get more sleep, tune into your emotions, especially loneliness, sadness, fear (this is another perspective in Wintering described by Katherine May), emotions that can be more apparent this time of year. If you are in an area where it snows, go outside and notice what changes are in the air. Read more, sleep more, set boundaries by saying no to things you don’t want to participate in. Hibernate.
January can be whatever you want it to be. Sure, the most socially acceptable view is “New Year, New Me '' but the best way to treat your January is exactly how it will ensure the year is most energizing, fulfilling, joyful, and productive for you. So ask yourself what you need more or less of this month and let go of the stringent guidelines we are given.
Let’s connect! Check out my website, or connect with me on Instagram or LinkedIn.
Nicole Dupuis, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Nicole Dupuis' coaching background started in the financial industry where she first discovered the art of tackling topics such as confidence, communication, goal setting, and time management. Nicole's coaching encourages clients in self discovery and exploration, guiding them to the most impactful action. Nicole coaches leaders in Fortune 100 companies, and small business owners in industries such as finance, tech and marketing. She has clients in over 5 countries and her company, Find Clarity Here, prioritizes finding clarity above all else.
