We were never meant to ramp up on January 1st.

To start eating differently.
To exercise more.
To set new career goals.

Not only that – January is the precise time our bodies need deep rest.

Hibernation.

Nourishment.

It’s not natural to reboot your life in the midst of winter – it’s political and cultural.

Setting new goals on January 1st often works against us, setting us up for disappointment, frustration, and self-blame.

The body is screaming for rest, while the media tells us to push harder.

When and why did January 1st become THE date to start pursuing new goals?

In 153 BCE, the Roman government moved the start of the year from March 1st to January 1st for administrative reasons.

Because Rome dominated Europe, this standard spread quickly.

It was about bureaucracy and power, not the natural order of things.

By the time modern capitalism emerged, January 1st was already standardized – ideal for fiscal years and contracts.

New Year’s resolutions as we know them took off in the 19th-20th centuries.

They neatly align with:

  • Work cycles
  • School schedules
  • Gym memberships
  • Self-improvement culture

The timing benefits institutions, not human biology.

Before January 1st became standard, March was considered the New Year in many cultures, tied to nature and agriculture.

That’s when day and night reach equal balance, and nature starts up again.

Longer days and warmer temperatures.

More birds in the sky.

The first sprouts.

Early flowers like crocuses and daffodils.

Fresh, soft air.

When nature is waking up, it’s much easier to set new goals and reach them more easily.

Different cultures mark the New Year in different ways, but spring is what resonates most for me, and what feels most honoring of the human body.

Working toward new goals in January can feel really hard, because our bodies need deep rest this time of year:

  • Long sleeps
  • Deep stretching
  • Restorative yoga
  • Yoga Nidra
  • Time with loved ones

If your New Year’s resolutions often wind up “failing,” it’s not a personal flaw – it’s the result of an imposed system that wasn’t designed with your body in mind.

The pressure to change when it feels so counterintuitive creates shame cycles.

Orienting yourself toward new goals and intentions in the spring will come much more naturally and effortlessly.

January is a beautiful time to gently reflect on the past year, without any pressure, judgment, or new goals.

I’ve found myself doing that over the past week, and I’m surprised by what I’ve noticed.

Next week I’m going to share the big changes I made in 2025, including one I feared I might never be able to make.

How do you feel this time of year?

Does March seem like a more aligned “New Year”, for your body?

I want to hear your thoughts – leave a comment below.

Much love,
Lula