I Don’t Recognize January 1st As A New Year (Here’s Why)

I have never quite felt in sync with the collective pressure to "reset" on January 1st. While the world around me is shouting about resolutions and new beginnings, I look outside and see an Earth that is still very much fast asleep. To me, it feels counterintuitive to force a "sprint" in the dead of winter, a season defined by dormancy, frost, and long shadows. Spiritually and energetically, my personal New Year doesn't truly begin until the Spring Equinox in March. I’ve realized that I prefer to align my internal clock with the rhythm of the planet rather than a date on a wall that was dictated by ancient bureaucracy.

The history of our calendar actually supports this natural intuition, even if we’ve moved away from it. In ancient Rome, the year did originally begin in March, which explains why our months are named the way they are—September, October, November, and December literally translate to the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth months. It wasn't until around 153 BC that the start of the year was shifted to January 1st, largely for political reasons and military planning. While I understand and respect why we have a universal civil calendar for structure and global consistency, I’ve found that my biological and spiritual needs don't always answer to man-made politics.

I recognize that this perspective is deeply tied to where I am in the world; for those in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are flipped, and their period of renewal looks very different from mine. But regardless of where we stand on the globe, I believe there is immense value in looking at what nature is doing right outside our doors. If you are in the Northern Hemisphere right now, nature is demonstrating the importance of stillness, rest, and recovery. The trees aren't trying to grow leaves in the snow, and the seeds aren't forcing themselves to sprout in the frozen soil; they are waiting, conserving their energy for the right moment.

For me, this winter period is a time for preparation and deep internal work, not for the loud manifestation of new goals. When I try to force a transformation in January, it often leads to burnout because my spirit is still craving the silence of the season. I’ve learned to give myself permission to remain in "winter mode" while the rest of the world is rushing ahead. There is no "behind" when you are moving at the pace of the Earth. I would rather wait until nature starts to bloom, and the sun begins to warm the soil, to truly step into my new energy.

When March finally arrives and the flowers begin to blossom, I find that I have a genuine, sustainable vitality that I simply didn't have in the darkness of January. That is when I feel the call to create, to bring forth new ideas, and to refresh my life with intention. By honoring the season of rest now, I am ensuring that I have the strength to bloom later.

I invite anyone who feels "unmotivated" right now to consider that you might just be in sync with the Earth. Your real year will start when you are ready, and for me, that will always be when nature starts to wake up.