It’s been preached to society that the start of a new year can help channel productivity to meet goals that weren’t met the year before. While this is great to keep us all striving towards growth and lifestyle developments, it’s also OK to have a different approach at the start of the year. For those who’ve had an overwhelmingly busy 2024, starting this new year off nice and slow might be exactly what you need.

Listen to yourself

As cliche as this can sound, a slow start includes taking a step back to see what it is that you want. Take a moment to step back and in the silence think about what it is that you want. Remember that this is your life and that you are the only one who has the power to know what it is that you truly want.

Say goodbye to comparing yourself to others

A big part of this comes from our use of social media. In a world where it’s “normal” for individuals to share the highlights of their lives online, it can take a mental toll on others who have a comparison tendency. This can also happen outside of social media and because of this, students are encouraged to change their perspectives to understand that exactly where they are in life is enough. The acknowledgement that your way of life and another individual’s way of life are different, and that this is okay, can allow for lowered expectations and promote a slow-paced start to 2025.

Let go, let it be

This one is hard for the students who like to be in control all the time. However, the beauty in watching life unravel in the best ways without you even trying holds its own sense of magic. Too rigid of a structure can be a source of heightened cortisol levels and overall stress. Stay true to your new year’s resolution of a slow start by simply letting go.

The art of politely saying no

Jumping at the opportunity for growth and development always seems like an easy yes. This year, students should be more intentional with their decision-making process and reflect on whether they should be saying yes or no to opportunities. This can be an example of big decisions such as career opportunities or small decisions more casual.

The unofficial structure

Although having a slow start to the year can have great benefits, it’s still important to have some idea of where the year will take you. Without being too structured, create a vision of what you want out of this year. I like to call this the skeleton of my year. This is just the important achievements that you are working towards without all of what comes in-between.

Sometimes, taking a breath away from the hustle and the bustle of real life is OK. This article should hopefully be a reminder that you have control of the way in which you lead your life whether that be slow or fast-paced. It’s OK for everyone’s lives to look a little bit different and hopefully this article will allow you to connect with your inner self more this year.