The January Edit: Winter Momentum

January has been quieter than usual. Less announcing. Less forcing. More settling into rhythm.

Instead of chasing motivation, this month has been about maintaining momentum. Showing up consistently. Letting routines harden. Paying attention to what actually supports energy when winter makes everything feel heavier.

This week’s Wellness Rewind is a January edit. A look at what’s been working, what’s sharpening, and how winter momentum is built not through intensity, but through intention.

With my upcoming milestone birthday coming up, I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting in my attempt to not fully crash out about something that I cannot control and is inevitable. I’m leaning in and trying to change my viewpoint and the misconceptions and fear I have within.

There’s a misconception that aging is about pulling back. Doing less. Wanting less. Expecting less from yourself. An expiration date, if you will. In reality, it’s the opposite.

What I’ve been discovering about my 30’s up until now, is that aging is about doing fewer things better. With intention. With standards. With self-trust. When time feels more finite, priorities sharpen. You stop wasting energy on what doesn’t compound. You become more selective with your body, your money, your calendar, and your attention. This isn’t about decline. It’s about evolution.

Energy management starts to matter more than motivation. You choose sustainability over intensity, both in work and in how you move your body. You stop pushing for short-term wins that cost long-term stability.

Financial decisions shift too. Less impulse. Less proving. More alignment. Money becomes a form of self-respect, not restriction. There is a certain kind of feeling that comes from making a monthly deposit into your IRA and seeing you nest egg grow that just didn’t hit the same in your 20s. (This must truly be adulthood!)

Identity stabilizes when you stop chasing versions of yourself that no longer fit. There’s freedom in knowing what you don’t need to prove anymore. You don’t abandon ambition. You refine it.

Aging forward isn’t about becoming smaller. It’s about becoming clearer. That clarity is what makes momentum possible in winter, when energy is precious and focus matters more than ever.

How am I leaning into the season and this new decade? I’ve been doing one new thing each day — 40 new things in 40 days. Some are grand others are small changes in my routine. The purpose is to have something exciting to look forward to each day and ease my mind about turning a year older.

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Start flowing free

As January comes to a close, I’ve been paying attention to what actually held. Not what I planned. Not what sounded good. What stayed. January didn’t need more to move things forward. It just needed follow-through. And that’s the energy I’m carrying into the rest of winter. Here is what I’m currently loving…

☕️ Morning ritual: Checking in on WHOOP
Helpful for keeping my 2026 priorities visible, especially around sleep and recovery. Winter is not the season to ignore either. Get 2 months free on Whoop.

📚 On my nightstand: A Life That’s Waiting by Brianna Wiest
A slow, reflective read that pairs well with winter. Less about becoming someone new, more about noticing what’s already waiting for your attention.

💆🏻‍♀️ Skincare anchor: The Clean Slate + The Quench — consistency over complication. The foundation of my morning reset — a soft cleanse, deep hydration, and that skin-first calm that lasts. Use code GLOWUP20 for 20% off on rootandrenew.com

🥞 Currently making: Recipes from Paula Delgado, especially her sweet potato wraps. Simple, satisfying, and perfect for colder days when you want something grounding without being heavy. https://www.instagram.com/pauladelgado_t/

💡 Wellness Tech: RUNNA
Runna has been instrumental in my training block for the Lisbon Half. On cold mornings when motivation is low, structure carries me. It’s been key to keeping winter momentum without overthinking every run or workout. Come and join me on Runna! Claim your first 2 weeks for free with my code RUNNAWI2UN27

🎙️ Worth Listening To: Science Vs. episode The Secret to Happiness
A grounded, evidence-based reminder that happiness isn’t something you optimize once and achieve forever. It’s built through behavior, environment, and consistency. A good listen for January recalibration. You can listen to the episode here.

🧠 Mindset shift: Winter Momentum Check-In

As January closes, take a few minutes to reflect:

Winter momentum isn’t loud. It’s built quietly through repetition and restraint.

January doesn’t need to end with a reset. It can end with reinforcement. Momentum in winter is about respecting your energy, trusting your systems, and letting discipline do the work motivation used to do.

We’re not slowing down. We’re moving forward with more discernment.

I’d love to hear your January rituals, the ones that make you feel calm, capable, and clear. Tag @wellnessbum or @valeriealvarez on Threads and share your January winter momentum.

Here’s to soft discipline, calm focus, and building from a place of ease.

See you next Sunday.
Valerie