Wintering Mindset

Why I’ve Embraced the 'Lazy January' Mindset as an Annual Essential for Life & Business.

It happens every year. The world shouts New Year, New Me! while I’m over here wrapped in a blanket, sipping tea, and glaring at my inbox like it’s a winter bear that woke up too early from hibernation. 

January has always felt like the month where the world expects us to sprint out of the gate, fully refreshed and ready to take on all the things. But nature - wise as ever - shows us something different. It tells us that winter is a season for slowing down, conserving energy, and preparing for what’s next. So why do we fight so hard against that?

​This year, I leaned so hard into the wintering mindset, for the first time. I won’t be going back! I will be embracing rest, reflection, and slow, intentional movement every January, rather than forcing productivity for productivity’s sake.

Lazy January: What This Looks Like for Me

​Lazy January doesn’t mean doing nothing—it means working in a way that aligns with the season I’m in. Here’s how I’m wintering in both life and business:

🌿 Reflecting Instead of Rushing – Instead of diving straight into new goals, I’m reviewing what actually worked last year. What did I love? What felt like a slog? What do I want more of in 2025?

🗂️ Small, Intentional Steps – Rather than tackling massive projects, I’m chipping away at the foundation: updating my onboarding processes, reviewing finances, and streamlining workflows. Things that feel slow but will make everything easier when the energy shifts in spring.

☕ Saying No to Hustle Culture – I refuse to feel guilty about slow mornings, long walks, or taking a proper lunch break. If I were a tree (stick with me here), this would be the time for deep-root strengthening—not rapid growth.

📩 Low-Energy Tasks Only – January is for gentle admin, quiet content creation, and catching up with clients at a steady pace. Big launches? High-pressure deadlines? Not this month.

So, what is a Wintering Mindset?

​Wintering is about pausing when you need to, rather than pushing through exhaustion. It’s acknowledging that growth doesn’t always happen in outward, visible ways. Sometimes, it’s the quiet moments - the planning, the resetting, the taking stock—that set us up for our biggest wins.

It’s not about giving up on ambition; it’s about pacing yourself. Because what’s the point of burning bright in January if you’re burnt out by March?

Why This Matters for Business Owners.

​As small business owners, we are our businesses. If we don’t take the time to rest and reset, we risk running on fumes before the year even properly begins. By embracing a wintering mindset, we give ourselves permission to work with our natural rhythms, not against them. And in the long run? That means more creativity, clarity, and sustainable success.

I took this message so much to heart this year, that this post was supposed to be scheduled for mid-Jan and not early Feb!

A Permission Slip for You.

If you’ve been feeling sluggish, uninspired, or just plain done with the pressure to have it all figured out already - this is your permission slip to slow down. You don’t have to leap into action just because the calendar says so. Your business will thank you for the pause.

Come spring, the energy will shift. Ideas will bloom. Momentum will return. But for now? Maybe it’s time to embrace a little more lazy January energy.

💬 How do you handle the winter slowdown? Do you fight it or flow with it? Let’s chat in the comments!

​​