As the calendar flips into a new year, there is often an unspoken expectation that we should feel renewed, motivated and ready to make changes. January is culturally framed as a reset point: a clean slate, a chance to reinvent ourselves, a moment to commit to ambitious resolutions about productivity, health, habits or success. This messaging is everywhere, in workplaces, social media and well-meaning conversations about “fresh starts.”
For many people, this time of year feels very different. Instead of momentum, there may be fatigue. Instead of clarity, there may be fog. Instead of excitement, there may be pressure, dread or quiet self-criticism for not feeling the way we are apparently supposed to feel. It can be a...



