Why a Therapist Wants You to Skip the January Glow-Up This Year
The Case for a Slow January: Why I’m Skipping the "Glow-Up"
A Therapist’s Unpopular Opinion on New Year Resolutions
By January 2nd, the air usually feels heavy with a frantic, high-pressure energy. We’re bombarded with messages to "hit the ground running," "optimize our routines," and undergo a total transformation. It’s the season of the "Glow-Up," and honestly? It’s exhausting.
As a therapist, I’m stepping in with a slightly unpopular opinion: January is not for fixing yourself. It’s for finding yourself. It is a time for slow, quiet reflection—not a sprint toward a version of you that doesn’t even exist yet.
The Trap of the "Fast Goal"
When we set goals fueled by New Year pressure, we almost always skip the "messy work." We want the shiny result, but we ignore the roots. Here’s the truth: frantic change is often just a form of self-abandonment. When we shout "New Year, New Me," we are telling our current selves that they aren't worth keeping.
But you cannot grow by disliking who you are right now. Growth isn’t a polished highlight reel; it’s non-linear, it’s repetitive, and it’s rarely pretty. It’s the work of being a messy, beautiful human.
Why We Need a Slow January
I want to give you permission to start this year slowly. Instead of adding ten new habits to your plate, what if you spent this month simply looking back with kindness?
Wanting to understand yourself goes infinitely further than wanting to fix yourself. "Fixing" implies you are a broken machine; "understanding" recognizes you are an evolving soul. When we slow down, we give our nervous systems the space to actually integrate change rather than just reacting to pressure. Reflection is the bridge between who you were and who you are becoming. If you rush across that bridge, you’re likely to drop the very lessons you need to carry with you.
Radical Honesty: Questions for 2026
If you want the end of 2026 to feel different, we have to move past surface-level resolutions and look into the shadows. I invite you to grab a notebook, a warm drink, and sit with these questions. Don't judge your answers… just listen to them.
What did you avoid this year that you actually need to face?
Who are you pretending to be that you are not?
What are you doing that doesn’t work, but you keep doing it anyway?
If you keep doing exactly what you are doing now, who will you be in December 2026?
What is the one thing you are not willing to sacrifice for your goals?
Why should "2026 You" be any different than who you are now?
What lie are you telling yourself about why you "can’t start yet"?
A Permission Slip for the Soul
You don't need to be "new" by the end of the month. You don't even need to be "better." This year, try being honest. Let January be the month of the Slow Start. Let it be the time you stop running away from your reflection and finally start listening to what it has to say.
The "old you" has survived 100% of your hardest days… YOU deserve a seat at the table, not a permanent exit.
Does your path to 2026 feel a little heavy? You don't have to navigate the non-linear path of growth alone. If you’re ready to stop "fixing" and start understanding the patterns that are holding you back, I’m currently accepting new clients.