Slower seasons = Sharper strategy
There’s a stretch of time between mid-December and early January that feels oddly in-between.
Emails and notifications slow down. Meeting invites dwindle. People start using the phrase “let’s revisit this in the new year” like a magic spell that makes every decision disappear.
And if you’re someone who’s used to moving fast—checking boxes, solving problems, staying ahead—it can feel… weird.
A little too quiet. Too still. Almost like you should be doing something.
But here’s the reframe: Stillness isn’t stagnation. It’s strategy.
Because in that in-between space, something powerful can happen.
You have time to listen to yourself, to notice what’s been simmering under the surface. And, to ask questions you don’t usually have room for in the rush of day-to-day work:
- What am I proud of?
- Where did I grow this year?
- What kind of work—or working style—no longer fits?
- Where do I want to show up more boldly next year?
You don’t need a full career blueprint before January 1. Or to overhaul your LinkedIn or build a 12-month plan (unless that sounds fun). You just need a moment of honesty with yourself.
So if the pace is slower right now? Don’t fight it. Use it.
Here are three things you can do this week that will quietly set the tone for a more intentional new year:
1️⃣ Pause and scan.
Write down a few quick notes. What energized me this year? What drained me? What surprised me? What do I want to leave behind?
2️⃣ Clean one slate.
Pick one tiny corner of your digital or mental workspace to clear. That folder you never open. That half-finished side project. That tab with 37 unread articles. Let it go. (Future you will thank you.)
3️⃣ Choose one word.
Not a goal. Not a resolution. Just a word that captures what you want to feel, focus on, or embody next year. Something you can return to when things get noisy again.
The world will speed back up soon. But right now? You get to be the kind of strategic that isn’t reactive.
The kind that starts with you.
Happy New Year! Until next time…
Mal
Founder, The Ideas Accelerator
Helping you grow your career with strategic insight and smarter tools.