Why “New Year, New You” Doesn’t Work

High-achieving women are often conditioned to power through the end of the year, then make sweeping changes in January. But the change that comes from depletion rarely lasts. All the stats prove that by February, the majority of New Year’s Resolutions, Goals, or Intentions have gone by the wayside. But why? Surely we can’t all be lacking willpower.

Winter Is for Slowing Down

Your nervous system is cyclical. Just like nature, it needs a season of rest. Winter invites inward reflection, not outward hustle. And for women, it’s also important to listen to our infradian rhythms (our menstrual cycle).

How Rest Is Productive

When your body feels safe, creativity returns. When your nervous system slows down, clarity emerges. Rest is not the reward—it’s the requirement. This is not only true of wintertime but also toward the end of a woman’s luteal phase and through menstruation.

Somatic Practices for Rebooting

• Body-Led Reflection: Journal from the body, not the mind. Ask, “What felt life-giving this year? What drained me? If these thoughts were in the body, what would they feel like?”
• Movement for Integration: Slow, intuitive movement, like walking, helps metabolize emotion
• Restorative Breathwork: 4-7-8 breathing or humming to tone the vagus nerve

What Readiness Feels Like

Readiness is not about urgency. (You know, that “I need it done yesterday” vibe.) It’s a soft pull forward. Rest creates space for aligned action, not forced goals.

So, this year, choose replenishment over resolution. Let your body lead, love.