Why Stillness Can Be the Best Resolution

Every January, there’s enormous pressure to reinvent ourselves. You see it everywhere, on your feed, in ads, even in chats with friends. The message is loud and clear: “New year, new you.” We’re told to start fresh, dream bigger, hustle harder, avoid stillness, and become some upgraded version of ourselves overnight. (ugh!)

But let’s be real, that kind of energy doesn’t always match how a lot of us feel at the end and beginning of the year. (Hello, cozy blanket and binge-watching a new show!) It’s cold, the days are short, and honestly, our motivation might be hibernating right along with the sun. 

And yet, we still feel like we’re supposed to dive headfirst into big goals or significant life changes, without really checking in with ourselves first. It’s easy to slip into that perfectionist mindset, making long to-do lists just to feel like we’re doing enough.

Maybe this time of year doesn’t have to be about pushing forward at full speed. Perhaps it’s the perfect time to slow down. To pause, reflect, and just be still for a bit. Doesn’t Mother Nature do it best? Winter is all about rest and restoration. Why not take a cue from the season itself? 

Why We Struggle With Stillness

We live in a world that constantly encourages us to be busy 24/7. Hustle culture tells us that constant motion equals success, and rest is something you have to earn; even then, it’s often seen as “lazy.” No wonder slowing down feels so uncomfortable. We’ve been trained to believe that our worth is based on what we do and how quickly we do it.

Let’s take a step back and remind ourselves. 

Rest and reflection are not only okay, but also necessary. 

They’re influential acts of self-trust. Rest allows us to process our emotions and helps us avoid burnout. Rest doesn’t come with gold stars or applause, but it can lead to real, meaningful growth, and you don’t need permission from anyone to do it. 

We’re simply not built for constant motion. And the idea that we should always be doing, growing, creating, achieving? It’s purely exhausting. Choosing to rest in a world that’s always telling you to do more is brave. It goes against our internal systems that are on autopilot. It’s a powerful way to honor ourselves and our bodies. 

What Nature Can Teach Us 

Society makes us feel like we’re expected to always be moving, growing, and pushing forward, especially at the start of a new year. But what if slowing down and tuning into the natural rhythm around us is part of the process? Nature isn’t in a hurry, and neither do we have to be. 

Here are a few gentle reminders from nature that might help you embrace rest and stillness as a part of your growth.

• Just because it’s quiet doesn’t mean nothing’s happening.
Growth doesn’t always look loud or dramatic. You don’t need to post about your New Year’s resolutions on Instagram for them to be valid. If you find yourself feeling pressured to showcase a “new you” on social media this year, take a step back and reflect on how you can slow down instead.

• Stillness is part of the process.
Slowing down isn’t the opposite of progress; it’s what allows real growth to take root. Rest is incredibly productive in helping us reset, become more creative, and gives us the space to rejuvenate. By the end of the year, most of us are exhausted! We need that designated time to slow down.

• You’re allowed to move with the season, not against it.
Trees don’t bloom in January. Animals don’t hustle through winter. They follow a rhythm. Maybe we’re wired for that kind of pacing, too? I love thinking about how we can align our years with the natural rhythm of nature (because they’re really onto something). 

• Clarity often comes in the quiet.
When you stop filling every moment, you might start to hear what’s going on inside. If the end of the year is only filled with busy events, it’s hard to honor ourselves and our boundaries. Our best thoughts and advocacy tend to arrive when we’re not trying so hard.

• Feeling tired or unmotivated doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong.
It may mean your body is asking for a break. Our bodies have a way of showing us what we need, often before our minds have caught up. Instead of continuing to put off resting, you can make the most of it and listen to your body. It’s even harder to listen to your body if commitments and noise constantly surround you. 

🌙 Rethinking Resolutions

Let’s talk about resolutions for a sec. Setting goals? Cool. Wanting to grow and improve? Also great. But a lot of New Year’s resolutions come packed with an insane amount of pressure. Like we’re supposed to completely reinvent our lives the second the clock hits midnight on January 1st. 🫠

These types of resolutions tend to bring out the perfectionist in all of us and can leave us feeling like we’re never quite enough. We aim high (which is fine), but we rarely factor in how we’re actually doing. Are we rested? Are we overwhelmed? Are we even excited about these goals, or are they just what we think we should want?

If you’ve ever started the year feeling super motivated, then totally burnt out by February, yeah, you’re not alone. That crash isn’t a personal failure. It’s just what happens when we push without checking in first. If you are a perfectionist or have perfectionist tendencies, setting overly strict goals can do more harm than good. Releasing the pressure to check off everything on your to-do list and to look and act a certain way will help you avoid the anxiety that accompanies perfectionism. 

Stillness isn’t slacking, it’s strategy. It gives you space to make decisions based on what feels aligned, not what the world says you should be doing. Rest gives you clarity. And clarity makes everything else more sustainable. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to grow or go after something big. But let’s stop pretending that speed and intensity are the only paths to progress. Growth doesn’t have to be fast, loud, or public to be real. Sometimes, the most powerful move is to pause, take a breath, and trust that something good is quietly unfolding.

Here are a few gentle affirmations that are centered on rest and avoiding strict goal setting:

• I will make rest a non-negotiable, not a reward.
Rest isn’t something you earn; it’s something you need.

• I will honor slow progress over fast results.
Your pace is valid. Growth doesn’t have to be rushed.

• I will check in with myself before saying yes.
Every “yes” uses energy. Make yours intentional.

• I will leave space on my calendar and protect it.
White space isn’t wasted space. It’s breathing room.

• I will choose joy and gentleness over pressure.
Let your goals support you, not stress you out.

• I will rest, even when the world keeps moving.
You don’t have to hustle to be worthy.

Simple Tools for Real Rest

If your goal at the end of this year is to slow down, rest more, or just reconnect with yourself, I’m there too! In a world that’s constantly pushing us to do more, choosing to pause is kind of a quiet power move. Here are a few easy, low-pressure ways to make rest part of your life, without turning it into another thing to “get right.”

Start Your Day in Quiet
Before the day begins, take five minutes just for yourself. Sip your coffee without checking your phone. Stretch a little. Stare out the window. That tiny pause can shift everything. ☕️

Take Walks With No Plan
Go outside without any goals. No step count. No podcast. Just walk. Notice the light, the trees, the air. Let your mind wander. Let your body catch up with itself. One of my favorite practices is a color walk, where you can select a color beforehand and look out for all the elements around you that match that color. 🌿

Journal Without a Plan
No prompts. No structure. Just write whatever comes out. It’s not about solving anything. It’s about giving your thoughts a place to land. ✍️

Say No Without Explaining
If something feels like a “should” but it’s draining you, you’re allowed to say no. That’s not selfish. That’s self-preserving. ❌

Create a Little Ritual
Find something simple that brings you peace: savoring tea before bed, taking a Sunday night digital detox, or listening to a playlist that helps you exhale. Make it yours. Make it regular. 🕯️

Check In With Your Body
Every now and then, just ask: How am I doing? Do I need to stretch? Drink water? Take a breath? These small check-ins can help prevent burnout before it occurs. 💧

Let Yourself Play
Rest doesn’t have to be serious. Dance in your kitchen. Bake something messy. Paint badly. Play just because it feels good. 🎨

What If You Resolved to Do Less?

Resolutions don’t always have to mean fixing something. They don’t have to be about chasing more or becoming a shinier version of yourself. There’s no “correct” way to rest. For some, it’s journaling. For others, it’s lying on the floor doing nothing. Maybe it’s logging off social media. Perhaps it’s saying no to weekend plans.

This isn’t about building a Pinterest-perfect rest routine. It’s about asking, “What do I actually need right now?” and being honest about the answer, even if it’s not what someone else would choose. 

So whether you find stillness in a five-minute breather or a whole weekend of unplugging, your choice to slow down is a quiet kind of rebellion, and honestly, one worth sticking with.

What if this year, your resolution was just to rest more? To check in with yourself more often? To make a little space in your life for quiet and reflection?

A few soft resolutions focused around stillness that might feel good:

• I’ll take a minute to check in with myself before I say yes to things.
  
• I’ll rest when I’m tired, without guilt.
  
• I’ll stop tying my worth to how productive I am.
  
• I’ll trust that seasons of stillness still matter.
  
• I’ll give myself permission to change my mind.
  
• I’ll make space for quiet, even if it’s just five minutes a day.
  
• I’ll let go of goals that no longer feel aligned.
  
• I’ll speak to myself with more kindness.
  
• I’ll choose curiosity over self-judgment.
  
• I’ll remember that I don’t have to earn rest; I’m allowed just to need it.
  
• I’ll celebrate small wins, even if no one else sees them.
  
• I’ll give myself grace when things don’t go as planned.

You don’t have to force yourself into action just because other people are. You don’t need to chase goals that don’t feel right.

And you don’t have to pretend to have it all figured out. It’s okay to begin the year slowly.

Or not begin anything at all. 💛