Slowing Down in January: Renewal Without Force
January is a funny month. Everywhere we look, we’re told two seemingly opposite things:
Slow down.
Do more.
Rest.
Improve yourself.
Sink into winter.
Rise into motivation.
It’s no wonder so many of us feel tugged in two directions at once. We’re surrounded by messages about fresh starts and big goals, yet our bodies and spirits are still deep in winter mode—quiet, inward, slow.
So what’s the “right” thing to do?
Here’s the truth: there is no single right thing. And whatever we choose, it shouldn’t be forced.
Winter Is a Season, Not a Performance
Nature isn’t rushing right now. The trees aren’t pushing out leaves. The soil isn’t bursting with new growth. Even the sun is taking its time returning.
We’re meant to feel that, too.
Sinking into winter is not laziness—it’s alignment. It’s the body’s natural response to shorter days, colder nights, and the invitation to turn inward. This is the season of warm blankets, long conversations, slow meals, and letting ourselves be held by the quiet.
It’s also the season of planning, dreaming, and gentle intention-setting. Not the frantic “new year, new me” energy, but the softer “what might I want to grow when the light returns” kind of wondering.
But What If We Don’t Feel in Sync With the Season?
Not everyone naturally drops into winter’s rhythm. Some people feel restless. Some feel pressured to be productive. Some feel guilty for wanting to rest. And some feel out of balance without knowing why.
Being out of sync with winter can look like:
Feeling scattered or overstimulated
Pushing yourself to “keep up” when your energy is low
Feeling guilty for resting or slowing down
Starting big projects but burning out quickly
Feeling disconnected from your own needs
Craving change but not knowing where to begin
None of this means you’re doing anything wrong. It simply means your inner rhythm and the outer season aren’t quite matching—and that’s an invitation to pause and listen.
Rest Doesn’t Mean Stopping
Sinking into winter doesn’t mean abandoning your goals or ignoring your desires. It means approaching them with gentleness.
You can still create.
You can still dream.
You can still take steps toward what you want.
But winter asks us to do it with softness. To give ourselves permission to move slowly. To let rest be part of the process rather than something we “earn” after the work is done.
Our minds, our hearts, our bodies—they all need restoration. Winter is the season that offers it freely.
Earth Medicine: The Time of the Goose
In earth‑medicine traditions, this season (December 22 – January 19) is known as the time of the Goose—the Renewal Time.
This is the beginning of a new cycle, the moment when the newly risen sun of one’s individual self begins to glow again. Not brightly, not boldly—just enough to remind us that we are still here, still growing, still becoming.
The Goose teaches us:
Discipline without rigidity
Vision without urgency
Renewal without pressure
Commitment without burnout
It’s the energy of quietly preparing for what’s ahead, gathering strength, and honoring the slow return of light.
So What Should We Do in January?
Whatever feels true.
If you’re inspired—follow it.
If you’re tired—rest.
If you’re dreaming—write it down.
If you’re cozy—sink deeper.
If you’re planning—do it gently.
January isn’t a test. It’s a threshold.
A place where we get to choose how we want to step into the next cycle of our lives—without force, without comparison, and without rushing the wisdom of winter.
Let this month be a soft beginning. A quiet renewal. A time to listen inward and trust that your pace is the right pace.
Because the sun is returning… and so are you.
