A Gentle Start to the New Year, With Support Along the Way.

When the new year feels heavy, quiet, or uncertain.

The start of the year doesn’t always feel the way we think it should.  January has a particular energy to it; There’s a lot of noise about fresh starts, big goals, and becoming a “new you”. And while that can feel motivating for some people, for others it can feel heavy, pressurised, or out of sync with where we actually are. 

If you’re feeling tired, flat, unmotivated, or unsure about what you want next, you’re not doing anything wrong. This time of year invites a different pace, we’re living through the shortest days and longest nights, which can feel like a time for going inward, to rest, reflect, and conserve energy rather than constantly push forward.

And yet, it’s often the time of year when we’re encouraged to do the opposite!  But I don’t believe this is the best time of year to work against the elements, do more, commit to punishing routines, eat less, and add unnecessary pressure on ourselves.

If you’re feeling a little low right now

You might notice a dip in energy around this time of year. We hear people talk about “Blue Monday” around now, it can be a time of year when motivation wobbles and the days feel heavy, which is a good reminder to take really good care of ourselves.

For me, this time of year can be especially noticeable. I experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and I’ve come to recognise how deeply the lack of light affects my mood, energy, and motivation. Some winters feel harder than others, and it’s taught me a lot about listening to my body, adjusting my expectations, and offering myself more compassion during these months.

For others, this might show up differently. It can look like low mood, irritability, overthinking, or a sense of feeling stuck. Often it’s a combination of tiredness and pressure; the desire to move forward paired with very little energy to
do so. If this resonates, it doesn’t mean you’re failing, It means you’re human.

Listening to what you need

Instead of asking “What should I be doing right now?”, it can be more helpful to ask “What do I actually need?”

That might be rest, space, or fewer demands on your time and energy. Or it might be support from someone, to help you untangle your thoughts and figure out what feels right for you, rather than what you think you’re supposed to want.

This is where coaching can help. 

How coaching works

Coaching starts with space to think out loud, slow things down, and make sense of what’s been swirling around in your head. I become your thinking buddy, sounding board, and cheerleader,  someone alongside you as we untangle your thoughts, values, wants, and needs.

From there, we can get clear on what you really want. Not what you think you should want, or what feels expected of you, but what genuinely matters. Together, we shape this into goals that feel meaningful, realistic, and aligned with you.

We then break things down into manageable, achievable steps. Change doesn’t have to mean huge leaps. Often, it’s about small, intentional actions that feel doable and build confidence over time.

Along the way, we explore whatever gets in the way, it might be practical challenges, but more often it’s the internal stuff; self-doubt, overthinking, resistance, or old patterns that show up when you try to do things differently. Coaching offers a safe, non-judgemental space to notice and work through these.

Having someone alongside you can make a real difference. I’m there to support you, keep you accountable in a gentle way, and help you stay connected to what you’re working towards, especially when motivation dips.

And just as importantly, we pause to notice progress. We acknowledge the small wins to build momentum and help change feel possible.

A moment to reflect

If you had a dream for “future you”… what would it be?

I’d invite you to grab a cuppa, stare out of the window for a few minutes, and gently consider what you want from the year ahead. No pressure to decide anything, just noticing what comes up. 

Here are some meaningful areas to reflect on…

• What would you like MORE of and LESS of in your life?

• Think about the people around you…

• Who feels nourishing? - Who fills your cup?

• Who drains you? And takes far too much from your cup? 

• What do you already know you want to accomplish this year?

• What is your biggest challenge in the months ahead? 

• What do you secretly need to acknowledge?
  

If reading these questions brings up a lot, or has you thinking “I’m not sure what to do with all of this”, that’s exactly where coaching can help. 

If you feel that you need some support

If you’re feeling a bit stuck, overwhelmed, or simply unsure about what you want next, coaching can offer a calm, supportive space to explore that.

In coaching, these are some of the areas I often support clients with: stress management, self-sabotage patterns, imposter syndrome, overthinking, coping with change, motivation, career direction and overall well-being.

I offer free discovery calls; a relaxed, no-pressure conversation where we can talk about what’s been on your mind and see whether coaching feels like the right support for you right now.

There’s no obligation to commit, just an opportunity to pause, reflect, and take a gentle step towards clarity.

If it feels right, you can find more details and book a free discovery call here.