Gentle Beginnings
If the New Year is Making You Anxious, You’re Not Alone
The start of a new year is often portrayed and felt for some as hopeful and exciting - but for many women, it brings anxiety, pressure, and self-doubt instead. You might feel like you should be motivated, clear, or optimistic. Instead, you feel overwhelmed, behind, or unsure of what you want. There’s nothing wrong with you for feeling this way, and this is often what I hear from clients in therapy sessions. A new year naturally invites reflection, and reflection - while for some can be helpful with looking back at growth made in the last year, new relationships formed, goals obtained, new opportunities unlocked, and exciting changes - it can also activate old wounds, especially if the last year was filled with stress, loss, or unmet expectations.
The Pressure to “Start Fresh”
The idea that January is a clean slate can feel comforting for some, but for others it creates an unspoken message: This is your chance to finally get it right, get over what happened, and move on. If you’ve experienced anxiety, trauma, or chronic stress, this kind of pressure can send your nervous system into overdrive. You might notice:
Increased worry about the future
Harsh self-criticism about the past
Difficulty making decisions
A sense of urgency to change everything at once
These are protective responses, not failures.
A Gentle Way to Begin
Instead of asking, “Who do I need to become this year?” try asking “What do I need more of to feel safe, supported, and grounded?” Gentle beginnings might look like:
Setting emotional intentions instead of goals
Allowing yourself to move slowly
Prioritizing rest and regulation
Letting go of timelines that no longer fit
Healing and growth don’t follow a calendar.
How Therapy Can Support a New Season
Therapy can be a space to process the weight of the past year, explore your hopes without pressure, and reconnect with yourself at a pace that feels sustainable. You don’t need to have everything figured out to begin. Sometimes the most meaningful changes start with compassion, meeting yourself where you’re at, and taking the first step. If the start of this year has brought up anxiety, self-doubt, or a sense of being stuck, you’re not alone and support is available. If you’re a woman in California in your 20s or 30s navigating anxiety, stress, or self-doubt, virtual therapy may be a supportive next step, and I welcome you to reach out.
“You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.”
- Maya Angelou