Rest Without Guilt

I'm not doing a New Year's resolutions this year and it's Instagram's fault.

I normally looooooove resolutions. As a list-maker and data collector, resolutions hit my sweet spot. Reorganize this! Learn that! Manage that other thing! Buy the gear! Action verbs galore. I get a big energy boost from the planning, shopping, and prep, and that carries me into execution.

But of course, the energy quickly shifts. Once the planning and purchasing is done, there's not much oomph to support the follow through. Sure, I could make vision boards and cut out pictures of my perfectly organized dream house, or put my goal weight into an app, and hope that keeps me on track. I could sign up for online trainings and find motivation from the fellow participants via Facebook support groups. Those things don't fully work for me though, and by the end of January, I'm back to my usual self with the addition of feeling a little defeated.

And that's where Instagram comes in.

A couple days before New Year's eve, as I was doing 10 loads of laundry from our Florida vacation and trying to get the house back in order. In between, I was also doom scrolling Instagram, getting assaulted by the usual list of ads for fitness routines, supplements, planners, and must-have products. I hadn't make my resolution list yet, but it was brewing, and probably unconsciously being manipulated by what I was seeing. Instagram (as a window to our culture at large) is full of the "new year, new you" messaging that tells us to GO and DO and BE and (most importantly) BUY.

In the middle of it, I ran into a post that stood out. It was a series of statements on a pine bough background. It simply said that January has never been a time of rebirth. Rebirth is the energy of Spring. Winter is the season of silence, reflection, restoration, and feeding our "roots" in order to prepare for the natural movement of fertility and creation in spring. I felt like one of those cartoon characters that had a light bulb go on over their heads. Oh, yeah! This is what all my yoga practices are about!

In January, my meditation teachers generally go into silent retreat. When they do come back to our meditation group, it's to share practices together for winter Navaratri, a time when we honor the feminine energy that supports inward movement, inspired speech, beauty, and music. My body also naturally responds to the darkness and wants to sleep, relax, and reflect. In Spring I have big upsurges of energy and activity that naturally arise from the lengthening days and warmer weather. Spring is MY natural "New Year" and the right time for me to take on big projects that require lots of energetic investment.

So this year, no more 2026 "be better" themed resolutions. No lists, no apps, no projects, no "January challenges", no equipment purchases. Instead I'm going to ask myself better questions with one word in mind - nourish.

• Do my actions nourish my family, my friends, or students?

• Do they support and nourish my yoga practice?

• Are they in harmony with my beliefs and higher purpose?

With that energetic shift, "body transformation" becomes eating and moving for health and longevity, not a number on a scale. "Home organizing" becomes using inspiration and love to create a comfortable space. "Learning a new hobby" becomes knowledge for it's own enjoyment and fulfillment, not to check off a box.

Most importantly, I can allow myself to do none of the above, because in that moment, it's time to rest and find quiet.

Om Shanti,

Laura