When the New Year Doesn’t Feel New

I love the feeling that the start of a new year can bring. A chance to re-assess priorities and to make resolutions and goals to better ourselves. I have made countless lists of things I will start doing or stop doing in the new year over the years. I don’t always stick to it but I do have fun making the lists.

This year to be honest I just am not feeling up to it.

It could be because I am feeling overwhelmed more than usual in life and the idea of even attempting to make a list just seems like an extra task I really don’t need to take on right now. Usually, it fills me up to be thinking about things I want to achieve or work on in the new year. But the idea of it this year just feels a little depleting.

This doesn’t mean I am not enjoying this time of year and looking forward to what the new year will bring. I absolutely am. But when I look towards 2025, I am filled with less of that clean slate and newness I usually feel.

It feels like 2025 may bring a lot of the same and looking to the new year just isn’t feeling very new.

Work has been stressful for a few months, more than the usual stress that can come from work. That work-life balance we often strive for as working moms, though rarely achieve perfectly; has been even more challenging to even attempt to find. I don’t see a whole lot changing all of a sudden come January just because it’s the start of a new year.

I was getting down on myself for not feeling excited about making lists of resolutions and was telling one of my friends the sort of funk I felt like I might be in.

Her response was exactly what I needed. “Who cares?” Not in a “who cares” about how I was feeling but a “who cares” about a list or a resolution or any of that.

She was totally right.

We then started talking about the season in general which truly is my most favorite time of the year. The things I am looking forward to, the joyous parts of the season, the true meaning of the season. I have so many wonderful things in life including two healthy kids and husband. I get to be home with the kids for their whole Christmas break on paid time off from work and can truly just unwind and enjoy through the new year. That alone is something to be very grateful for.

It started to shift my mindset which I very much needed.

There are so many things I love about this season of Christmas and a new year. The newness doesn’t have to come from making a list and starting to drink more water or go on some weird cleanse; or any other sort of resolution I have set before.

The newness comes from the fact that Jesus was born, and the new year can be a reflection and celebration of that.

Celebrating Jesus doesn’t mean that my work stress will lessen but it does help me to go into the new year with a fresh perspective.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (Corinthians 5:17)

It’s ok if you are feeling like the new year doesn’t feel new. We have seasons of life that are challenging and not even the change of a year is going to overcome that. But God has plans for you in 2025.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

If you are not making lists and resolutions this year, that’s ok! Don’t let that add one more thing to your backpack that you don’t need to. Find joy where you can and be thankful for the blessings you do have in life.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Happy New Year from all of us at All Mom Does.

We are here to lift you up, through all seasons of the year.

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