It might seem a little strange to be writing and sharing a blog about habits just before Christmas and the New Year.
This is usually the time we’re told to pause, indulge, or wait and hold off until 1st January, when we can start fresh, do it “properly,” and commit with a clean slate.
But I keep coming back to the same question: why wait?
At the beginning of December, I set myself the goal of setting and following a workout pattern. It had to be something that would be impactful yet easy. So I committed to 10 minutes a day for 6 days a week, ranging from arms to legs to core to walking and yoga. The variety was imperative at encouraging me to begin and continue this habit. Not as a New Year’s resolution, not as part of a dramatic reset, but as a quiet decision to start doing something kind for my body. I set myself a simple goal: to be consistent with it for a month.
I’m a few days short of that month now, and I’ll be honest, it hasn’t been a perfect streak.
Two weeks ago, for example, I felt run down. Not dramatically ill, but low on energy, a bit foggy, and depleted in the way that makes pushing through feel like it would take more than it gives. So I paused the workouts and focused on healing instead. From the outside, this can look like stopping. And internally as well – usually, this might be a cue for me to give up – I’ve missed a few days so what’s the point? But I reframed this as rather than missing my workouts – I deliberately CHOSE to take time to rest and recover, and as soon as I was feeling well again I go back into – and am still following – the habit.
This is where mindset matters.
A fixed mindset would say that pausing means I’ve broken the habit, failed the goal, or proved that I can’t stick to things. A growth mindset tells a different story. Not being able to do something because you’re run down or unwell doesn’t mean you have to stop doing the thing altogether. It means your capacity has changed, not your intention.
One moment doesn’t define us. One disrupted week doesn’t undo the work that came before it.
Instead of telling myself “I’ve stopped working out,” I told myself, “I’ll start again next week.” That reframe keeps the habit alive without forcing it. It allows space for rest without turning it into a narrative about failure.
The early stages of any habit are fragile. They’re not automatic yet. They rely on trust, and that trust is built when your body learns that starting something new doesn’t mean ignoring its needs or pushing through at all costs.
There’s a common trap with habits where one pause tries to rewrite the whole story. One missed session becomes “I never stick at anything.” One difficult week becomes “what’s the point in continuing?”
Remember, habits aren’t a straight line. They’re a relationship with your energy, your health, and your real life. Learning how to return to a habit is just as important as learning how to start it.
As I started to get back into it, and continue to build on it. I already know what helps me. I like the flexibility of being able to change my routine whenever I want to. At the same time, I keep some things the same: the time of day, the general structure, the cues that make it feel familiar rather than overwhelming.
I’ve also learned that earlier is kinder than later. Getting it done earlier in the day isn’t about discipline or productivity, but for me it’s about capacity. Later in the day, everything has to compete with fatigue, decision overload, and the general fullness of life.
Most importantly, I hold myself accountable without being harsh. Accountability doesn’t have to sound like criticism. It can be calm and practical: noticing what got in the way, adjusting expectations, and starting again without drama.
I may be a few days short of my original one-month goal, but I’m still continuing. This habit didn’t begin on 1st January, and it doesn’t need a symbolic restart to be valid. I’ll carry it with me into 2026, already shaped by real life rather than waiting for a perfect moment that doesn’t exist.
If you’re thinking about habits at this time of year, you don’t have to wait either. You can begin quietly, imperfectly, and in a way that fits around your life as it actually is.
The goal isn’t a perfect streak or a dramatic New Year reset. It’s a habit that survives real life and comes with you into the year ahead. I look forward to updating after a couple of months!