The Secret to a More Productive Year: January Doesn’t Count

For the past few years, my “new year” has started on February 1st. It’s not because of some clever strategy, it just happened naturally. January simply doesn’t work for me. As a Muslim, I don’t celebrate New Year’s Day, but I love the idea of fresh starts. Mondays, the beginning of spring, back-to-school season, there’s something special about those moments when life feels like it’s offering you a chance to do better.

But January 1st? That date doesn’t feel right.

Let’s be honest: winter is dark, cold, and utterly draining. From November through February, my energy levels plummet, probably because of the lack of sunlight. Starting over in the middle of all that just feels unnatural. Animals hibernate for a reason, yet we’re expected to wake up on January 1st, brimming with motivation? No, thank you. For me, spring feels like a true reset. It’s when nature comes back to life, and when I feel like I do, too.

This realization didn’t happen overnight. I’ve always been a goal-oriented person, someone who loves deadlines (even the imaginary ones I set for myself). But over time, I noticed that January had become a month of struggle rather than success. I’d finish the year completely burned out, and by the time January rolled around, I was still in recovery mode. It wasn’t fair to expect myself to launch into new goals when I hadn’t even caught my breath.

Now, I treat January as a transition month. Instead of pressuring myself to dive into the new year, I use the time to tie up loose ends from the previous one and slowly plan for the next. Some years, I don’t even start setting my goals until mid-January. I spend weeks soaking up inspiration, creating mood boards, adjusting my planners, and learning from others, before my energy fully returns. By the time I’m ready to hit the ground running, it’s February.

For me, February 1st marks the true start of the year. It works with my mental health, my natural rhythms, and even the flow of my career. But the beauty of this approach is that it’s flexible. You don’t have to follow the crowd and commit to January 1st. If you’re struggling to start, pick a date that feels right for you—it’s as valid as any other.

The most important thing? Don’t beat yourself up for taking your time. Growth isn’t about rushing, it’s about doing what works for you. January 1st is already a fake date anyways, don’t you think ?