Happy New Year! … Or is it? Not for everyone.

I’m going to be honest. My transition into the new year has been filled with heaviness of the heart, solo travel lessons, culture clashes, loneliness and homesickness.

I personally can’t stand the new year, new me statements that social media is full of. It’s such an illusion.

Instead, can we embrace the same you and a beginning of another calendar year with ease and grace?

LET’S TALK ABOUT JANUARY BLUES AND WHY WE CAN EXPERIENCE IT.
(If you’re feeling the heights of this year, I’m excited for you! I encourage to read this and you can share with someone who is going through this.)

We are in the midst of winter, so the massive pressure often put around Jan 1st with goals and habit changes really goes against nature actually.

It’s actually in March when we have the Spring Equinox when we really start to energetically get into the initiation, new beginning energy with spring.

So, go gently sweet soul. I know the world has built this idea about January having to be super ON, but the bears are hibernating for a reason, so it is natural you want to do the same.

It’s in our nature.

Anyways, I made a poll on Instagram asking about people’s feelings and quite a few of you wanted me to do something on January blues and how to reconnect through it.

JANUARY BLUES SELF-CONNECTION PRACTICES

Here’s what’s helped me lately.

1. Notice the glimmers, not just triggers.

   In my last letter of 2024, I wrote about the importance of noticing glimmers. This applies here too. Even if you might be in the post-holidays blues, notice the little glimmers. If you missed it, you can read the post here to get the full scoop how to do this.

2. Remember to Connect and Move
   When I’ve felt my most "blue," it’s often because I haven’t moved my body and been more stagnant.. Exercise is not just for the body—it’s medicine for the mind, too. Even a short walk or a few minutes of stretching can help shift your energy and give your mood a much-needed boost.

3. Get Yourself Out of the House—Don’t Isolate
   It can be tempting to stay in and hibernate, but isolation often makes the blues worse. Get outside, visit a friend, or even spend some time in a lively café. Being around others, even in passing, can help lift your spirit. The energy of the world around you can be surprisingly healing.

4. Listen to Music to Feel the Feelings
   Sometimes, the best way to move through sadness is to actually feel it. Turn on some music that matches your mood. If you’re feeling sad, let the music guide you through it. Sit with the sadness and reflect: what’s behind it? Acknowledging your feelings and giving them space is important. By feeling it, we free it.

5. Do Mel Robbins’ End of Year Audit
   The Mel Robbins “End of Year Audit” method is a great way to reconnect with yourself. These 7 questions really spark positivity, heartfulness and will bring up ideas and excitement for 2025, too. This really helped me connect what I got out of last year to be able to start this year more connected. Watch and do the process here.

6. Look Through Your Photos and Create a Highlights Reel
   This is one of the steps in the audit, but I wanted to highlight it separately. Take a moment to look through your photos from last year and pick your favorites. Create a highlights reel to celebrate the positive moments and memories. Reflecting and reminding you of the good that happened really will cheer you up and bring a smile on your face!

7. Check In on Your Wellbeing Habits
   Which habits have fallen off? I noticed I hadn’t worked out in days, which always leads me to feeling low. Once I got back to working out, I felt better almost instantly. My sleep had also been off, and prioritizing rest helped me regain my energy. So check in on these: How have I slept? How have I eaten? Have I moved my body? How have I treated my mind? Have I been mostly alone or with people? - That will give you answers why you might be feeling blue.

8. Minimise Social Media

   If you’re feeling blue, limit this. I noticed the moment I got back on there the more I also felt triggered. Sometimes, being without social media can give you the peace and space for you to move through what you’re feeling. There is a reason you’re feeling this, so lastly:

9. Let Yourself Be Where You are - Stop Comparing Yourself to Others.
   Honor your pace. Honor your feelings. Accept your feelings. They are there for a reason. You are exactly where you need to be. Let yourself be where you are and others to be where they are, knowing you’re exactly where you need to be and how this is unfolding is FOR you.

As I said in the beginning: nature is still in hibernation, so it is totally okay, if you feel the need to hibernate and ease into this year. On the other hand, if you’re really in the boost of the new year, or middling through - perfect. Wherever you are on the spectrum you’re where you need to be.

Don’t force anything else, just flow with where you are. ALLOW it.

My hope for 2025 is less comparing to others and focusing on our own journey and ALLOWING and LETTING ourselves to be on our journey and allowing others to be on theirs.

The more we just focus on our own journey and let others do theirs, the more peace we find. That is from Mel Robbins’ Let Them Theory. I recommend to check that out too. This work is something I’m focusing on embodying at the moment with my word for year: ALLOWING.

I will write about that in another post.

How are you feeling in your new year transition? How is this resonating? How are youuu?

Reply to this email and let me know. Let’s connect. Let’s stop staying alone with our feelings and connect more over them. That’s the spirit I want for this year.

Cause together is better.

Heartfully,
Essi

PS: YOUTUBE CONTENT UPDATE: I forgot my card deck to Bali and I’m in Kuala Lumpur getting back today, so I’m sorry for missing the card reading for this week, also. I will resume Youtube content later this week or latest next week. I have a lot to share, but I’m honouring my pace to share when I feel ready. Thank you for your patience as I reroot myself.