The Warm-Up Phase: Getting Ready for Your Next Season

November isn’t the finish line, it’s the warm-up for what’s next. This week’s Wellness Rewind is about using this in-between month to refine, not rush. It’s the moment to check your foundation — your routines, mindset, and creative systems — before the new year energy arrives.

Think of it as a gentle pre-season: less pressure, more clarity. The work now isn’t about sprinting; it’s about stretching into what’s coming.

Every big shift starts with a quiet recalibration. The warm-up phase is where alignment happens before the noise, before the resolutions, before the urgency to “start strong.”

We often treat December as the end and January as the beginning, but November is the bridge. It’s where you prepare your mind and body for what’s next. It’s the space to ask, What’s worth carrying forward? And what am I done holding onto?

Warm-ups are intentional by design. You move slower, tune in, pay attention. You don’t push; you prepare. That’s how you avoid burnout and build consistency. The same principle applies here. Before 2026 begins, you get to strengthen your foundation, the small daily habits, systems, and mindset patterns that will support who you’re becoming.

It’s easy to chase transformation, but longevity is built through refinement. You don’t need a new plan; you need a better rhythm. One that feels sustainable, not performative.

This season isn’t about starting over, it’s about starting smarter.

Think of November as your practice round for the year ahead, a month to reflect, refine, and reset before 2026 begins.

Reflect: What did this year teach me?
What patterns am I ready to release? What moments defined me more than I realized? Reflection gives context, it reminds you how far you’ve come and what stories you no longer need to carry forward.

Refine: What habits, mindsets, and systems still work?
You don’t need to rebuild everything. Most of what you need is already here, it just needs tightening, reorganizing, or simplifying. Refinement is how you create flow.

Reset: What energy am I taking into the new season?
Resetting isn’t about erasing; it’s about realignment. It’s checking your internal compass, shifting your pace, and letting your future self set the tone.

This warm-up phase isn’t about doing more, it’s about becoming more intentional with what already exists. Because sometimes the biggest change isn’t in starting something new, but in returning to what matters with a clearer mind.

The last few weeks, I’ve been revisiting my own systems, not overhauling them, just checking what still works. My morning routine has gotten simpler. My workouts are more consistent but less intense. My calendar has more breathing room.

It’s wild how much clarity shows up when you stop cramming every moment with effort. There’s space to think again. To feel inspired again. The whitespace in your calendar? That’s the real flex.

I’ve realized this: preparation is its own kind of power. You don’t have to be in full sprint to be progressing. Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is pause, re-evaluate, and set up the structure that future you will thank you for.

The next version of you isn’t built in the push, it’s built in the prep.
This is your permission to slow down, refine, and re-organize before the next wave hits. A strong foundation doesn’t scream for attention; it quietly holds everything together.

Think of November as your practice round for the year ahead, a month to reflect, refine, and reset before 2026 begins.

Reflect: What did this year teach me?
What patterns am I ready to release? What moments defined me more than I realized? Reflection gives context, it reminds you how far you’ve come and what stories you no longer need to carry forward.

Refine: What habits, mindsets, and systems still work?
You don’t need to rebuild everything. Most of what you need is already here, it just needs tightening, reorganizing, or simplifying. Refinement is how you create flow.

Reset: What energy am I taking into the new season?
Resetting isn’t about erasing; it’s about realignment. It’s checking your internal compass, shifting your pace, and letting your future self set the tone.

This warm-up phase isn’t about doing more, it’s about becoming more intentional with what already exists. Because sometimes the biggest change isn’t in starting something new, but in returning to what matters with a clearer mind.

🧠 Read: Essentialism by Greg McKeown — a reminder that clarity, not effort, drives results.

🎧 Listen: Call Her Daddy — “Doom Scrolling Is Ruining Your Life.” A smart, reality-check conversation about protecting your energy, focus, and mental hygiene as the year winds down.

💻 Try: Revisit your digital life, clear out your inbox, declutter your desktop, unsubscribe from noise. Make space before the new year asks for more of it.

📓 Use: The Five Minute Journal. A simple daily practice to anchor your mornings and close your nights with gratitude. It’s small, fast, and surprisingly grounding.

⌚️ Track: WHOOP Band. If you love data, this one keeps you honest about your recovery, sleep, and energy trends without pushing hustle culture. Think mindful accountability for your body.

🕯️ Do: Choose one anchor habit this week, something that brings you back to yourself daily, like a quiet coffee, a walk without your phone, or five minutes of stillness before you start the day.

🗞️ Read: This Red Flag Reveals If You’re Stuck In a Job That’s Going Nowhere (Entrepreneur). You might be investing a lot of time into your 9-5, but is it paying dividends for long-term success? This article is a great read.

This time of year, it’s so easy for your daily routine to be thrown off.

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_{*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.}

On Wednesday, I sat down to “plan 2026.” Instead, I spent an hour deleting old notes, renaming files, and organizing projects that had been floating half-finished for months.

It didn’t feel exciting, but it felt grounding. There was something deeply satisfying about making space before adding more. It reminded me that preparation isn’t always glamorous, sometimes it’s just getting organized enough to think clearly again.

November isn’t about ending the year. It’s about getting ready for what’s next. Remember, this is your warm-up month. You’re not behind, you’re just preparing with intention.

Valerie

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