This year was heavy. It was a year of surviving, not thriving.

Winter is when I pause and reflect on where I’m at. I don’t rush into goals. I slow down, reset my systems, and give myself space to recharge before the next season. Every December, when winter rolls around, I go into hibernation mode. I intentionally slow down, reflect, relax, and spend a lot of time deep in my thoughts, thinking about this past year, how I felt over the last couple of years, and what I really want out of my life. I do this from December to February.

If you’ve been here for a while, you probably know that this past year has been a lot for me. Both of my grandparents passed away. And then very unexpectedly, my cat passed away as well. I also started a brand new job this year after being unemployed for a whole year, and I had to go back into the office on a hybrid schedule after being remote for five years. That meant adjusting to a new schedule, commuting, and finding a rhythm that fit my new life. So with all of these things happening at the same time, this year was definitely not a thriving year for me. Every day, I was just trying to get through one day to the next and survive.

In this season, my reset looks like doing my life audit and treating it like a real project. I started moving my standard procedures into ClickUp, so I can see what’s not started, what’s in progress, and what’s completed. I gather the receipts, journals, camera roll, and creative outputs, then I start looking for patterns. I go deeper than surface level. I want more boundaries against energy drainers and toxic situations. I want nights and weekends filled with reading and learning, calmness, free time, functional systems, and intentional movement. I want less scrolling because I’m too tired to do anything else, less multitasking, and less stress and anxiety.

And honestly, a big part of this reset is admitting that my cup has felt full all year, but the water kept pouring. So every little thing going wrong has been triggering major anxiety and tears. I realized I need to take care of myself first. I have to do what’s nice for me before I can do what’s nice for others. I don’t think that’s selfish. I think that’s realistic, healthy, and self-aware.

That’s what this winter reset is for me. Making space to feel what I pushed down. Reflecting. Getting myself right. And then moving forward into 2026 with more clarity.

Until next time,

Rachel