It's okay to take your time

my thoughts going into the new year

With the new year already underway, I can’t help but feel rushed to achieve something before it is time.

I’ve heard some people say it already: January might possibly be the worst time to “reinvent yourself” or set ambitious goals and resolutions. With most of the Northern Hemisphere still in the depths of winter, we shouldn’t be expected to leap out of our warm, comfortable beds on the first day of the year with a revitalized energy and sky-high ambitions. Instead, I hope to convey a sense of ease and calm as we head into a new year—a reminder that it’s perfectly acceptable, even encouraged, to acknowledge how far you’ve come before stepping into what’s next.

Towards the end of last year, I sat down with a new friend over coffee to discuss a potential career path. At some point, she asked why I was drawn to it. My answer unraveled into a whirlwind recount of the past decade—the highs, the struggles, the lessons. When I finally stopped, she looked at me and said, “Thank you so much for sharing all of that.”

I braced for judgment, worried I’d overshared. But then she added something that stopped me in my tracks: “Sometimes, we’re so focused on what’s next that we forget to look back and see how far we’ve already come.”

Her words stayed with me on my walk home. Was she right? Am I always rushing to the next thing without pausing to acknowledge the good here and now?

What was causing me to be in such a rush? What if what I want won’t happen overnight? What if it takes time? A lot of time—not just one night of really good sleep.

This anxious pattern of thinking, which I and many people I know have been caught up in, is largely due to the way society portrays success online. In an age where success is often defined by follower counts or rapid achievements, it's easy to feel behind. But I’ve come to realize that progress is personal, not performative, and meaningful growth doesn’t adhere to a timeline dictated by others.

When we are constantly looking toward what’s next—a new milestone to reach, a goal to achieve, the work we haven’t yet done—we naturally focus on what is lacking. Often, we forget that what we have is already quite impressive. This, I believe, is what my friend was telling me that afternoon over coffee. Perhaps I’d gotten so caught up in pursuing the next step that I’d forgotten all about the journey it took to get to where I am now.

In the midst of a job search, spending far less time doing the things I know I love, this idea of focusing on the lack has resurfaced. I’ve been so intent on filling the gap created in my career that I’ve almost entirely forgotten the joy that writing brings me. As a result, I risk losing something deeply important to me by choosing instead to focus on what is not yet actualized.

This brings me to another realization: the energy we bring into the world shapes what we attract. When operating from a place of lack, we attract people and things in our life that are also lacking. Conversely, when coming from a place of fullness—or abundance—we attract more abundance.

So, I’m trying again to channel the energy that inspires me to create and be creative. To feel whole and capable of achieving my goals. To not be threatened by the fear of failure but instead motivated by the possibility of success. I’m taking it day by day and focusing on what is in my control. Down to the little things, like what time I get up in the morning or making sure I eat breakfast before heading out the door.

This afternoon, I took a yoga class, even though it was the middle of the day and my mind was telling me to keep going with job applications and resume reviews. I listened to my body’s cravings to slow down and take a deep breath in the midst of a stressful day. I realize it might take me longer to get to where I want to be that way, but at least I’ll live to see the day.

If you’re struggling to set new goals or intentions this year, let this be your reminder to go slow. Reflect on the past year and see what you find. Do more of what is already going well, and less of what isn’t. It doesn’t have to be so black and white, and it’s okay if you slip up now and then. The old you won’t disappear overnight, and the new you will take time to fully develop. This is simply the process of growth.

As I step into 2025, I’m reminded that success isn’t about speed but intention. By reflecting on where I’ve been and approaching the future with kindness and creativity, I hope to continue growing, creating, and thriving—on my own timeline.

Wishing you all the health and happiness in the new year. Thank you always for supporting my writing, it means the world to me <3

Link to my 2025 mood board here.