Happy February! I don’t know about you, but most people I’ve talked to recently are just emerging from their own version of torpor—a state of minimal activity that some animals enter to conserve energy during winter.

Despite what we’ve been conditioned to believe in our culture, it’s actually pretty unnatural to hit the ground running at the beginning of the year—especially in the Northern Hemisphere, when we’re coming off some of the shortest, darkest, coldest (and often wettest) days of the year. Add in the heaviness from many of the events happening in the US and around the World right now, it’s no wonder if you want to put January behind you.

A dip in that “get-up-and-go” energy that we’ve been feeling may be perceived by capitalism as an inconvenience to be overcome. I, however, believe that nature is incredibly wise, and it’s our job to look for that wisdom and work with it instead of against it.

In the Four Directions used in many Indigenous cultures, the North (Winter) is a time of rest, recharge, and incubation. It supports plants, animals—and yes, humans—in preparing for a busy, vibrant springtime (the East), which is all about rebirth, innovation, and growth.

I encourage my clients to work with this natural rhythm rather than fight against it. I’ve seen clients send emails or launch marketing campaigns in early January, only to feel deep frustration when few people respond or take action. The truth is, the same actions taken now can yield very different results. It’s the difference between paddling upstream and going with the current.

So if you tried hitting the ground running in January and felt like you had little to show for your efforts, try re-implementing now what you did then:

• Repost some of the LinkedIn posts that only got a handful of reactions (with a few tweaks to make them feel fresh).
• Use your favorite AI tool to rewrite an article and share the same message in a slightly different way.
• Reach out again to the people you contacted in January who didn’t respond.

If I were a betting woman, I’d wager you’ll see substantially different results just a few weeks later. In fact, just today I had a client email her network to set up calls right before we got on for our coaching session, and she booked three new appointments by the time our call was coming to an end.

I’ve affectionately named the period between late November and late January “Excuse Time.” During Excuse Time, even people who are typically very responsive can go dark. They’re distracted by the holidays, kids being out of school, and their own natural desire to slow down, all while trying to stay on top of work.

Next year, I invite you to anticipate this natural slowdown and lean into it rather than fight it. It’s a powerful time for strategic planning, content creation (client tools and resources, blogs, website copy), and tackling administrative tasks that have piled up. And, of course, it’s a time to take vacation or time off, rest, recharge, and dream into what you truly want for the coming year.

Now that we’re emerging from Excuse Time, how will you harness this shift in energy?

If you’d like support aligning your strategy with this renewed energy—and turning momentum into real results—I invite you to book a complimentary Business Breakthrough Session with me. This focused 30 minute session is designed to help you clarify what matters most right now, identify what will actually move the needle, and create a simple, aligned plan you can act on immediately.

If you’re ready to work with the current instead of against it, this is a powerful place to start. Click here to learn more and book your session.