A Slow Living Start to 2026: Meeting Yourself Again

The last moments of the old year... but the tide has already turned. The sun has died and been reborn at the Winter Solstice. We have now begun a slow ascent into the light, although it will be a while before we notice any real difference. For all we know now, we are still in the depths of winter’s death, but it is not a time to fear. Darkness is where all things begin, and hope is born.

As we begin a new solar cycle and prepare to start a new calendar year, I thought it would be nice to come together once a week and mindfully transition from the peak of winter darkness into early spring, when the light is truly returning.

This series will end on January 31st - Imbolc Eve. Imbolc is the first of the spring festivals on the Wheel of the Year celebrated on 1-2 of February. I know that in many places around the world it is still very much winter, but here in the Somerset countryside gentle signs of spring are already visible - the first bulb flowers, buds beginning to appear on trees and hedges and there is a strong sense of renewed energy in the air.

Currently, we are standing at the opening of a new chapter. Now that Christmas has passed, after weeks of intensive socialising and indulging, many of us naturally turn towards what winter truly calls us to do - look within. While others meticulously plan their New Year goals, I believe it is a little too early for this. The world around us is quiet, withdrawn and still. I believe that to truly support our long-term goals, it is wiser to follow the example of Mother Nature and allow our growth to begin in the calm and safety of the darkness.

That’s why I invite you to a slower, more introspective start to 2026. Today, we begin with two prompts I encourage you to think through, alongside a gentle yoga pose in tune with the dark season.

1. Meeting yourself again

As we go through life, we naturally gather layers around our core personality. At first, we are influenced by our family, then by our close circle of friends. With time, we begin discovering wider worldviews, music, art and more. We start intentionally choosing what we engage with - what brings us joy and aligns with the person we wish to become.

All of this is normal and stems from our deep need to fit in with the pack - something woven into our DNA. For our ancestors, staying with the tribe meant survival, while being an outcast could quite literally mean death. Yet over the years, this build-up can sometimes cause us to lose a sense of who we truly are and what we genuinely enjoy. Especially in the modern age, with the constant noise of social media, it is easy to lose ourselves by chasing “aesthetics” instead of authenticity.

In the coming days, spend a little time considering:

What would your choices be if no one were watching?
What would your choices be if social media didn’t exist?
What did you love before you felt the need to curate it?

The things to consider aren’t just fashion or home decor, but also opinions - and even the fact that we hold so many of them in the first place. I know this might sound strange, but thanks to the internet we are exposed to countless things we would never have known about before, many of which have no real impact on our daily lives. And yet, they can genuinely worry us, upset us, or turn us into keyboard warriors.

I’m not suggesting that you close yourself off in a safe bubble, but rather that you become more intentional about what you engage with and what truly deserves your energy.

2. Before We Add, We Let Go

Most New Year’s resolutions fade before February. Many people commit to new habits or complete lifestyle changes, even though they barely had time to catch their breath in the year before. With life so busy for all of us - work, children, commuting, household chores - what makes us believe that in the New Year we will suddenly find the time (and energy) to go to the gym several times a week before work?

Of course, the intentions are admirable, but they are often not very realistic.

I invite you to follow one of the oldest systems in the history of humankind - farming. Rather than trying to plant new seeds in last year’s ground, we first prepare the field. Just as a farmer clears the soil of what no longer serves - old growth, stones, and remnants of the previous season. The land is turned, allowed to rest and nourished. Only then is the soil ready to receive new seeds, with the trust that new growth will come in time.

In the same way, instead of adding more to your life, consider which habits from the old year you would like to let go of. What is draining you, holding you back from achieving your goals - or simply something you no longer wish to carry into the new year?

Remember, these don’t have to be big or impressive changes to make a lasting difference. Some of you may be aware of my weight-loss journey. This chapter isn’t closed for me - and in truth, it never will be. I need to stay mindful around food and last year I definitely became a little too loose with the biscuit tin.

Around mid-November, I decided it was enough - no more biscuits. I still eat sugar and enjoy the piece of cake or chocolate, but this change is more about a small habit: grabbing a biscuit every time I passed the pantry. That habit had to go, because it no longer serves me. I plan to carry this intention into 2026 as a way of managing my long term health. It is a small change, but it makes a huge impact on my diet and how I feel, reminding me that I am in control of my body and my appetite.

Things you might consider to limit or let go off, drawn from what already might be present in your life:

If you want to lose some weight (before you decide on a strict diet and workout plan that never worked for you before) try:

- Reducing alcohol and snacking between meals
- Choosing to walk instead of drive when you can
- Letting go of perfection and understanding that setbacks will happen
- Releasing the need to see results quickly

If your goal is a slower, more peaceful everyday life (before adding new routines or committing to daily practices you’ve struggled to maintain in the past) try:

- Stopping over-explaining your choices
- Stopping mothering everyone around and beginning to ask other adults (like your husband and grown-up children) to contribute to household chores.
- Letting go of guilt when you are resting
- Limiting scrolling without purpose
- Stopping being available to everyone at all times
- Stopping saying yes out of habit or people-pleasing
- Letting go of feeling responsible for other people’s feelings (this one is big for me personally!)

3. 5 minutes of yoga for calm

I’m a huge advocate for moving our bodies, even though I’m not exactly a sporty person. In fact, there are only two types of "exercise" I truly enjoy - walking in nature and yoga. As always, I hope my writing inspires you to step outside and spend time in nature, and today I also hope you’ll join me in a very simple, yet deeply relaxing yin yoga pose.

You don’t need a yoga mat at all - a blanket on the floor or a carpet will be enough. If you don’t have a yoga bolster, simply stack a few pillows or use sofa cushions - they will work just as well. Their only purpose is to support your body in a comfortable, easeful position. And if lowering all the way down doesn’t feel right for you, you can support your head and upper body on the sofa, bed, or a chair. Comfort and safety always come first.

Yin and restorative yoga invite us to hold poses for longer periods of time. For this video, I’ve chosen a shorter hold of around two minutes per side, but you’re very welcome to stay for three, five, seven, or even more minutes - as long as it feels good in your body. Listen to your own cues, move slowly and come out of the pose at any time. This is your practice, and your body always knows best.

A few closing words

Conception happens in darkness, like a child in the womb or a seed in black soil. We also dream with our eyes closed and I think this corresponds beautifully with this time of year. The world is quiet and cold, yet we trust that spring will arrive.

The same is true for our lives. There is no wishful magic here and no false promises - simply the understanding that we can’t go very far while carrying a heavy load and feeling tired. When we let go of what weighs us down and allow ourselves to rest, we create the energy and mental space needed to shape the life we want.

Wishing you a very happy New Year. When I write to you again in this series next Saturday, it will already be January!

Adriana x

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