Why I have a spring in my step and why you should too

I haven’t seen the sun in a month. In fact, it’s raining now. But it is still winter, so what else should we expect? This sort of weather, where it feels like someone has put a grey sheet over the whole sky, is not exactly the most motivating. How many people do you think are keeping up with their New Year’s resolutions? It’s no surprise how difficult it is to motivate yourself in these winter months. Bears are still hibernating, and we are, after all, animals too.

In the natural world, the new year begins at the start of spring, not 1 January, and for many centuries, humans did the same, having a calendar closely tied to the harvest. It wasn’t until the birth of the Julian calendar, fashioned by Julius Caesar in 45 BC, that this changed. A few tweaks to this model gave way to the Gregorian calendar, which is what most of the modern world uses now.

What we ought be doing is taking after the Middle Ages; the medieval period was much more in tune with the ebb and flow of the year

Why is this important? It means that according to our biological instincts, the new year hasn’t even started yet. Instead of charging forward with aspirations that are unfortunately doomed to fail, we should accept the reality that we are still in the season of hankering down and resting, preparing to awake again on 1 March. What we ought be doing is taking after the Middle Ages; the medieval period was much more in tune with the ebb and flow of the year, shaping their lives throughout the seasons, rather than the expectations in the modern day that are standard and rigid throughout the year.

February is the month of preparations. The first thing to do is a classic spring clean, clearing away all the murk of winter. Make some space for the light to come in when it can: dusting, washing up, and putting rubbish in the bin, not just next to it. Fresh air is the most important part of this process, opening windows and hanging beddings outside.

The best part of waiting for spring to arrive is watching it slowly creep in

Next comes a mental spring clean, clearing the cobwebs out of your mind. Lean into the ‘spiritual’, and dig into what these past two months of the new year have taught you. Not yet successful in building a certain habit? Revisit, rework, and realign. January is about rest, February is about planting the bulbs, and March is for watching your hard work bloom.

The best part of waiting for spring to arrive is watching it slowly creep in. Already, daffodils, snowdrops, and crocuses are blooming, cropping up across lawns and pavements. Promises of bluebells and tulips emerge amongst the brown and grey of winter. Days start to get noticeably longer and milder – though still rainy (April showers bring May flowers, after all). Little by little, it gets a little bit easier day by day to be positive about what is to come. So, when the real new year does arrive, you can embrace it with zeal and zest for life.

What does this mean for you? If the year hasn’t started in the way you hoped, do not fret. New Year’s Day is a Roman-made construct anyway, and in reality, the new year has not even begun.