The New Year, New You trope is a trap

The calendar flips to January, and suddenly the world is screaming at us to become new people. We’re told to set goals, start diets, join gyms, and hustle harder—as if the turning of a page is the magical moment we’re all supposed to overhaul our lives. It’s the same story every year, and every year, it leaves us feeling like failures by mid-February when the momentum fizzles out.

But here’s the thing: this isn’t about self-improvement. It’s about capitalism. The machine needs us to buy into the idea that we’re not enough as we are. The gym memberships, the planners, the courses, the self-help books—it’s a billion-dollar industry designed to feed on your doubt and exhaustion. And what’s worse, it’s asking you to push forward at the exact time nature is asking you to rest.

Winter Is Not a Season for Hustle

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, deep winter is a time of stillness. The trees are bare. The earth is quiet, held in a state of pause. Everything in nature is telling us to slow down, go inward, and conserve our energy. Animals hibernate, plants go dormant, and yet here we are, pushing through. Why? Because we’ve been conditioned to see rest as laziness, as something shameful. But nothing about this pressure is natural—it’s a mandate of capitalism.

Capitalism doesn’t want you to rest. It wants you in perpetual motion, always chasing the next thing. Always buying, always consuming. Rest doesn’t make money. Introspection doesn’t boost quarterly profits. And for businesses, New Year’s is a critical time for sales—a significant percentage of annual revenue comes from products marketed to capitalize on your perceived need for change. So instead of honoring the season of stillness, we’re sold the idea that we should sprint into the new year with shiny new goals, ignoring the fact that our bodies and minds are crying out for pause.

The Wisdom of the Seasons

If we were living in alignment with the natural cycles, we’d treat winter as a sacred time of introspection and restoration. We’d use this season to reflect on the year we’ve just lived—to honor the lessons, process the struggles, and celebrate the growth. We’d take stock of what we’ve carried and what we no longer want to bring into the light of spring.

This isn’t the time to plan and push. It’s the time to rest and release. The seeds of change don’t sprout in the dead of winter. They germinate slowly in the dark, beneath the surface, gathering strength for what’s to come.

Goals Can Wait

Let me be clear: there’s nothing wrong with wanting to grow or set goals. But January isn’t the time, at least not for those of us in winter’s grip. Deep winter isn’t the energy of action; it’s the energy of stillness. When you try to force motion during a time meant for rest, you’re not setting yourself up for success—you’re setting yourself up for burnout.

Give yourself permission to stop. Let the world keep spinning with its diet plans and morning routines and vision boards. You don’t have to join the rush. The truth is, real transformation isn’t rushed. It happens when you’ve allowed yourself the time and space to truly connect with what you want and why you want it.

Rest Is Rebellion

Choosing to rest is a radical act in a world that demands constant productivity. Slowing down, listening to your body, and honoring your own pace is an act of rebellion against the forces that profit from your exhaustion. It’s a way of reclaiming your sovereignty.

So this year, let’s do something different. Instead of sprinting into January with resolutions and hustle, let’s embrace winter for what it is: a time to pause. Reflect on the year behind you. Dream quietly about the year ahead, but don’t feel pressured to act on those dreams just yet. Trust that when the energy of spring arrives, you’ll know it’s time to move.

And for those in the Southern Hemisphere, where the energy of summer is alive and vibrant, the call might be different—but even there, the relentless push of consumerism can strip joy from your days. Wherever you are, honor the pace that feels true to you.

Until then, rest. Dream. Breathe. It’s enough.

_________________

If you need help processing the New Year and planning for 2025 with compassion for yourself or you need help finding your path back to yourself hit me up. I want to chat about the things you obsess over when you lie awake at night. I want to unpack your dreams and your nightmares. I want to talk about who you were before all that shit dimmed your shine and how to get her back. 

I’m not here to fix you because I don't think you're broken—I’m here to help you fall in love with yourself and your life again. No mood shaming, no gaslighting, just real, transformative coaching from someone with three decades of experience. Ready to reclaim your fire? Let’s set some sparks flying. DM me.

You can also find me at www.thecoachngguild.com if you’re interested in coach training.