There’s about two feet of fresh snow outside my window, and I’ve been wearing pajamas since Christmas morning. This is one of my favorite times of year. I say that a lot, but it’s almost always true. There’s little joys sprinkled throughout the entire calendar if you look hard enough.

I’ve gotten quite comfy living in the in-between over the last however many years. There’s really no other week that captures that feeling quite like the one we’re in right now. This strange limbo—the handful of days between Christmas and New Year’s. Expectations are low for this week, and I’ve always appreciated that.

I’m fortunate to have the week off from work, and have been looking forward to this break for months. I had such high hopes for what I would accomplish. I would finally sit down at my desk to get some work done. Surely I would draft up my next few blog posts. Extensively plan out next year’s new creative project (hehe). I would finally perfect my chocolate cake recipe, and maybe even start running again. You know, all those things I’ve been wanting to do for awhile. If only I had the time!

Having now reached the end of this highly anticipated staycation, I’m delighted to report I did none of that. I did sit at my desk. But just to paint my little paintings. I indulged in a nap or two. Or five. Bopped around the house, looking at all the chores I could do, inevitably landing on the couch to watch TV instead. I played outside with my dog in the snow, and even made hot chocolate for breakfast one day. In other words, this week I rested.

Some might be horrified by the fact that I watched nearly 14 hours of TV over the course of one day. Another person, however, might be amazed at what a remarkable accomplishment that is. To wrangle my short attention span like that, all for the sake of finally catching up on Stranger Things. And that’s the power of perspective, baby! Even more powerful is the practice of truly resting, however that may look for you. 

Rest is not always just sleep. It’s also engaging in the little things that make your heart happy. A soul siesta, if you will. That sort of revitalizing rest feels a lot more accessible during the days approaching the new year. There’s not too much going on. Little pressure to get anything done. In an otherwise relentlessly busy life, what a beautiful thing that is. If only we could go this easy on ourselves all year long. However you chose to spend the last week of this weird in-between, we’re here now, on the cusp of something brand new. 

I’m a firm believer that there’s always something to celebrate. But New Year’s Eve has always been one of my favorite days to do that. As a kid, that’s because I got to stay up late, eat junk food (“appetizers”) for dinner, and watch The Twilight Zone marathon on SYFY with my mom for hours. As an adult, I still enjoy these things. Literally so much I could happy cry. But now, what I appreciate even more is the anticipation that the day holds. 

For a few moments, as we patiently await midnight, everyone out there is feeling a shared sense of suspense for the unknown. New Year’s Eve has always been a great equalizer in the sense that no one knows what’s going to happen in the great, big year ahead of us. Depending on how you look at it, that can be pretty frightening. Or incredibly exciting. Once again, the power of perspective.

This year in particular, I’m trying to remind myself not to put too much pressure on it. Sure, January 1st is a clean, convenient time to make a fresh start. But it’s not the only time. New Year’s normalizes reflection and looking ahead. A beautiful, powerful practice. I’d highly recommend doing that all year long. But the key is not making yourself feel horrible the instant things don’t go according to your idealized plan.

Trying to change your entire existence for the sake of a New Year’s “resolution” is a wildly unrealistic expectation. Honestly, if you ask me, it’s just a fast track to disappointment. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to become a better version of yourself. In fact, I’d argue that’s kind of the whole point of being alive. But drastic changes like that aren’t just going to happen overnight, silly. And it’s crazy unfair to expect that of yourself. Seriously, take it easy over there!

Whatever you’re hoping to accomplish in 2026, the great news is you have an entire year to figure it out. And if it takes a little longer (which it probably will) that’s okay too. As we head onward into the unknown, I hope we can all go forward, be gentle, and give ourselves some grace as we set out for whatever comes next. 

Until then, see ya next year! *Ba da cha* 

I literally couldn’t resist, 

Olivia