Why You Deserve a Rest
By Tara Rivero Zea
Hello everyone, I hope you've survived the festive season! Let's digest it all for a minute.
You know that hustle over the Christmas period - the gifts, the feasts, the entertainment - well we can’t say Santa did much to help can we? That was all you. Whichever way you celebrated, I’m sure it’s safe to say you had an endless to-do list! And we can’t forget the emotional labour that came with keeping everybody happy and catered for.
If you're anything like me, you're probably now sitting in this early January feeling a bit... depleted, wondering where all your energy went. Well, it went into making magic for everyone else.
It's Time to Make Some Magic for Yourself
Here's the thing about January - yes, it can feel long and grey and a bit overwhelming with all those "New Year, New You" messages. But I've come to see it differently over time. January is actually a gift. It's the pause button. The breath in before the breath out of the year ahead.
In the Pagan calendar, we're in the deep winter now - the time of Imbolc is approaching, when the first stirrings of spring begin. The seeds are still underground, waiting before they push through the soil. That's where we are right now. Gathering strength for the lighter seasons to come. So instead of forcing yourself into aggressive resolutions or beating yourself up for not being productive enough, what if we approached it differently?
What Should 2026 Actually Look Like?
I always encourage people to get quite specific with their intentions at this time of year. Not vague wishes like "be healthier" or "be more creative", but real and tangible visions. How do you want to feel when you wake up? What do you want more of in your life? And let's not forget about what you can give yourself to look forward to in these long January days?
So my invitation to you this month is simple:
Acknowledge the hard work you've put in over the last year. That deserves recognition, even if it's just from yourself.
Get clear on your intentions. Spend some time thinking about how you actually want 2026 to feel. Write it down. Say it aloud.
Give yourself something to look forward to. Book that massage. Plan that holiday. Say yes to something nourishing. Your body needs to know that rest is coming, and it's not just going to be ‘doing, doing, doing’.
Set some boundaries. It's ok to protect your energy, and it's okay to say no.
Remember, we're still in the deepest Yin time on the wheel of the year. This is not the season for pushing too hard. This is the season for gathering your strength, figuring out your direction, and nourishing yourself from within. So be gentle with yourself, and rest when you need to!