New Year, new you.
It’s what behavioral scientist Katy Milkman of the University of Pennsylvania calls the Fresh Start Effect, the way that certain days inspire us to start a new routine. It could be your birthday, or the start of a new school year, or just a Monday. But the effect may be strongest at New Year’s, with its emphasis on resets and resolutions.
I’ve been known to make a few resolutions of my own, and
even to stick with some of them. But the good news is that if things don’t work
out after January 1, there are other New Year’s days that offer a chance to start
anew.
Orthodox Christian faiths, for instance, still adhere to the Julian calendar, which means that they will celebrate New Year’s on January 14, 2026. If you need another month to gear up for your fresh start, Chinese New Year begins February 17. The Persians have you covered with a March 20 date if you’re looking for a spring reboot, and the Bengalis offer an even later option on April 15. If you make it to the fall still looking to begin again, the Jewish new year starts September 11 this year.
Just as there is no one way to count the passage of years,
there is no one way to choose or achieve the goals a new year (of your
choosing) may prompt. January invariably brings a flood of articles that aim to
provide guidance and encouragement for aspirations big and small, but any day,
week, or month can herald a fresh start.
Whatever new chapter you start in 2026 (or the year of the
horse or 1385 or 1433 or 5787), you have 365 days to get it written. Let your
journey begin.
Are you planning on a fresh start for a new year?
With so many options to start, I think I’ll think about it tomorrow. No formal resolutions- only a promise for better time management.
ReplyDeleteAs long as "fresh" means getting back to work on a couple of WIPs with fresh enthusiasm, yes. I'm giving myself this weekend to wrap up what's left of 2025's demands before refocusing on the future on Monday.
ReplyDeleteI used the end of 2025 to close down some projects I no longer had enthusiasm for and make room for some new ideas to germinate.
ReplyDeleteI think the Persians and the Begalis have the right idea. Spring feels like a new beginning every year.
ReplyDeleteI had a long meeting with my beta reader last week and have a "short" list of edits on my ms. I'm using this weekend for edits before short story submissions.
ReplyDeleteLove it. I always do annual plans beginning January 1st, but if I find I need some grace, I've been known to declare March 1st or September 1st as the "true" new year. Not sure why March 1st, but September 1st is because it coincided with the start of the new school year. Which everyone knew was the start of the real year! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Mary! Sadly, I'm a "come Monday" person. I'll tackle that when Monday rolls around...or the Monday after that...lol!
ReplyDelete