profile

Positively_Lisa

Starting the new year with less stress and sustainable systems...

Published about 2 months ago • 2 min read

Reader

Let’s be honest: the start of a new year isn’t always the fresh, sparkly reset we’re told it should be. Sometimes it feels loud and rushed before we’ve even found our footing in the first week. We’re surrounded by messages about starting strong, setting big goals, and becoming a “new you”…and instead of feeling inspired, it can feel like pressure.

If that sounds familiar, you are absolutely not alone.

I’m inviting you to begin the year differently, in a way that prioritizes your energy, your nervous system, and your real life.

Rather than pushing yourself into resolutions or arbitrary timelines, I encourage you to start the year slowly and intentionally. Not by avoiding action (I don't mean that slowly)...but by choosing thoughtfully what you do and when you do it.

If you want this year to feel calmer and more sustainable, here are a few ideas to consider:

• The way you start matters. When we begin the year overwhelmed or rushed, that becomes our baseline — and even meaningful plans can quickly feel like too much.

• Slowing down is not the same as doing nothing. Creating space before you commit allows you to reflect, observe, and choose wisely instead of reacting to outside expectations.

• Self-awareness comes first. Before you plan anything, get curious about your energy, your priorities, your capacity, and what actually matters in this season. The more you understand yourself, the easier it is to create systems that support you.

• Intention doesn’t have to equal pressure. A simple guiding intention (like wanting more peace, support, or ease this year) can quietly shape your choices without demanding perfection.

When you start from this place, planning becomes more compassionate and realistic. You’re not forcing yourself to “stick to the plan”, you’re designing a life that honors who you are and what you need. And to me, that’s what real productivity looks like.

If this feels like a breath of fresh air, you’ll appreciate this week’s episode where I unpack these ideas more fully and help you explore what a sustainable start to your year might look like.

>> Listen to the podcast here​
>> Read the blog post here​

I hope this message helps you release some of the pressure you may be carrying into the new year. You don’t need to rush. You don’t need to reinvent yourself. You are allowed to begin gently and move forward with intention.

Happy 2026! I'll be here cheering you on.

​
♥

Lisa

P.S. What's next?

This coming year I have plans to create more products to help you approach productivity practically and compassionately. Expanded workbook mini courses and guided meditations are in the works and I would love to know what you would like to see. Any ideas? Be sure to reply to this email and let me know!

If journaling is on your list, you may appreciate these pages and prompts...

$5.00

Positively Living Journal (Printable)

A dedicated space for daily and weekly reflections, this digital product can be printed as much as you'd like and/or... Read more
​

County Route 10, Bath, NY 14810
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​

Positively_Lisa

Productivity Coach + Podcast Host | Shame-free, Sustainable Solutions

Check out the resources I offer below and request my Toolkit to reduce overwhelm, boost energy, and align your actions with your values!

Read more from Positively_Lisa

Reader If you’ve ever thought to yourself: “What’s wrong with me?”“Everyone else seems to manage this. Why can’t I?”“I just need more discipline.” You’re not alone. These thoughts are incredibly common, especially when life is challenging. The problem is, when we repeat these thoughts, we get used to them. And they sound reasonable (or at least normal) to us because we are taught to push hard, expect more, and assume we are the only ones challenged. But what if this inner dialogue is quietly...

3 days ago • 1 min read

Reader Today’s email is a celebration, because the Positively Living® Podcast just hit 300 episodes!! That number is exciting on its own with only about 1.79% of podcasters reaching this point. It sounds impressive, but as I celebrate, I am remind of what this milestone really represents: years of showing up consistently, evolving in format while staying true to my purpose, and continuing to have real, compassionate conversations about productivity that honors life as it actually is. To...

9 days ago • 2 min read

Reader What if productivity didn’t need to be something you push through or prove yourself with? After ten years of coaching, creating, caregiving, building a business, and having thousands of conversations with people trying to do life well, here’s what I know for sure: productivity works best when it’s personal, compassionate, and grounded in reality. If you want support that actually fits, consider these ten reminders: Productivity is personal, not universal. Fluctuating energy is normal....

17 days ago • 1 min read