As the calendar flips to Monday 05 January 2026, the pressure to reinvent oneself can feel overwhelming. However, wellness expert Emilie Lavinia, in her latest Well Enough newsletter, offers a compelling counter-narrative: January is not actually the best time for grand resolutions.
The Case for a 'Soft Landing' into the New Year
Lavinia argues that our modern calendar is out of sync with our biological rhythms. Historically, spring – a period of natural awakening and renewed energy – marked the true beginning of the year. While we no longer plan our lives around equinoxes, our internal clocks still carry this evolutionary hangover. This insight is gaining traction in wellness circles, with many biohacking researchers and experts now advising against drastic January overhauls in favour of a more personal, gentle approach.
"I’ve embraced a soft landing into 2026 and kept my foot on the brake," writes Lavinia. She champions prioritising activities that feel good over extreme challenges and curating social media feeds by unfollowing accounts that promote intense new workout or diet regimes. The goal, she suggests, is to bring your whole self into the new year, not just the parts that seem optimisable.
Expert Advice: Be Kind, Be Realistic
This philosophy is backed by professional expertise. Alexa Knight, Director of Policy and Influence at the Mental Health Foundation, provides crucial guidance for those contemplating new year goals. "Resolutions can be helpful if they’re realistic and rooted in self-care," Knight explains. She emphasises that while January can be a natural time for reflection, positive steps for wellbeing can be made at any time.
Knight's key advice centres on kindness and incremental progress. "It’s incremental changes that make the most difference," she notes, advising against self-criticism when things don't go perfectly. "Slipping up is normal and doesn’t mean you’ve failed." The focus, she insists, should be on persistence and integrating mental health care into the goal-setting process itself.
Practical Steps for Sustainable Change in 2026
Lavinia synthesises this expert advice into actionable strategies. Her primary recommendation is to resist the "self-optimisation hype" and instead set reasonable, manageable resolutions aligned with personal milestones throughout the year. To support this, she suggests keeping a journal to track small changes and intentionally crafting inviting personal spaces—whether at home, work, or for relaxation—to encourage consistency.
The newsletter also curates a selection of sustainable wellness tips from 2025, featuring insights from various experts and contributors:
- Alice Porter found success by embracing variety and playfulness in exercise over gruelling consistency.
- Harry Bullmore promoted the concept of 'exercise snacking' for manageable movement.
- Shakira Akabusi, on the Well Enough podcast, advised reframing your relationship with movement and strength.
- Beginner-friendly Pilates moves were highlighted as an accessible starting point.
- Rhiane Kirkby tried and loved a workout popular with midlife women, also a favourite of Jennifer Aniston.
- Niki Cottrell discovered joyful movement and social connection through a hiking club.
Looking ahead, Lavinia discusses predicted wellness trends for 2026, including the rise of community social wellness clubs, analogue activities, AI diagnostics, and a focus on biological age.
The overarching message for starting 2026 is one of gentleness, reflection, and realistic goal-setting. As Emilie Lavinia concludes, the aim is to feel more "healthy, whole, and human," reinforcing her signature belief: "you’re well enough as you are."
Readers can receive the full Well Enough newsletter by entering their email on The Independent's site or visiting the newsletter preference centre. The accompanying Well Enough podcast, featuring discussions with household names and field leaders, is also available on YouTube and major podcast platforms.
