A Slow Start to 2026: Rest in Hard Times

A slow start

This blog post may feel more like a newsletter but I wanted to try this format out since it fits what I’m trying to communicate so well. 

I’ve honestly been struggling to write this post, not for lack of ideas, but because they just didn’t feel right given the place I find myself in this month. And a place I think a lot of other people might also be finding themselves in.

There’s a lot going on and some people, me included, are struggling to keep up spirits and the cold certainly doesn’t help. On times like this I think it’s good to take a step back and slow down. 

Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May is not only an amazing read but serves as a guide on how to rest and retreat and simply slow down. She describes Wintering as a process that can be needed at any time, but for me it happens to also align with the season.

Speaking of the season, I don’t believe we were meant to be as active as modern society makes us in these colder months. Winter is a natural pause, to slow down and look inward at our homes and ourselves instead out outwards.

How can this actually be applied?

It’s difficult in our capitalist society, but I’ll share some of the ways I’m slowing down this month. I know the new year brings about the excitement of new goals, but my word of the year is renew. 

So I am simply renewing practices I already have that I fell off on at the end of last year. For me, that’s going to the gym again, ensuring I get proper nutrition in the food I eat, and trying to hit my existing routine goals. 

The key here is that I’m not taking on anything new or starting from scratch, I am simply re-focusing my energy on consistency. 

Cozy hobbies like reading, gem painting and coloring that can be done inside with warm vibes and a candle are also on my radar. There will be time to make fun plans and travel but for now my nights are calm and indoors. 

And when I do make plans with friends, they are pretty low-key and chill, coffee or dinner or even getting boba and crafting some punch cards. 

In case you needed to hear it

A lot of Asian cultures have their new years closer to spring and I think that makes more sense, it’s easier to explore and try new things when the weather is warmer (at least for me) and after a long winter slowdown I feel ready to tackle those things too.

So if you needed to hear it, it’s okay to have a slow start to the year and it’s okay to not have all your goals figured out or started. Now is the ideal time to take it easy and reflect. You can always start fresh whenever you choose (it’s not just reserved for the beginning of the year.)

It’s been a slow start for me and everything going on in my life it feels like this is the time to be more chill, lowkey and most importantly rest. 

This is not to turn a blind eye to everything that is happening but ensuring that everything doesn’t become too overwhelming during this period.

I hope this post has brought some calm to your day and that maybe you feel better about the place you’re in because you are definitely not alone. 

I strongly suggest reading Wintering by Katherine May if you want to delve more into this topic too. 

Thanks for reading, I’ll see you in the next one!