You don’t need a new year to reset

ISSUE 7 | DECEMBER 2025

December always makes us feel like we’re running out of time. Like if we don’t “finish strong,” we’ve somehow failed the year.

But most of us aren’t behind — we’re just overstimulated, overbooked, and expecting January 1 to do work our nervous system hasn’t agreed to yet.

Here’s what I’m unlearning, simplifying, and doing instead as the year winds down.

EACH ISSUE INCLUDES:

→ one thing i’m unlearning
→ a healing protocol
→ a recipe or ritual I’ve been loving
→ a book, product or tool worth your energy

ONE THING I’M UNLEARNING

[ the end of year rush ]

December has this weird pressure to wrap things up, push harder, finish strong — like the calendar flipping somehow upgrades your output. It doesn’t. Time is a construct. January 1 isn’t a portal. It’s just another morning you wake up with the the same habits, the same body.

The idea that you “might as well wait until the new year” is one of the biggest productivity lies we tell ourselves. There is zero functional difference between starting a habit on December 31 or January 1 — except that waiting keeps you stuck in the exact loop you’re trying to break. Momentum doesn’t care about dates. Your body doesn’t either.

I’m also unlearning the belief that I need a dramatic fresh start to reset. No big declaration. No perfectly mapped plan.

Most real change happens quietly — when you choose to go to bed earlier, eat one grounding meal, or stop forcing productivity when your system is clearly asking for less.

ONE HEALING PROTOCOL

[ reduce stimulation before you optimize ]

After the holidays, most of us aren’t unmotivated — we’re overstimulated. Too many social plans, conversations, foods, late nights, screens, expectations. Your nervous system doesn’t need another routine. It needs containment.

Here’s a 3-step reset that actually works:

1. Shrink your world for 7 days.

Say no to non-essential plans. Fewer people, fewer inputs, fewer decisions. This isn’t antisocial — it’s regulation.

2. Create one predictable anchor per day.

Same breakfast. Same walk. Same evening wind-down. Predictability = safety to your nervous system.

3. Lower sensory volume at night.

Dim lights after 8pm. No problem-solving conversations. No “just one more scroll.” Let your system land.

This isn’t about discipline. It’s about letting your body remember what calm feels like.

ONE RECIPE

[ my low effort grazing board ]

When I’m overwhelmed with work, I don’t cook elaborate meals. I build simple plates that get the job done.

A can of sardines (protein + omega 3)
One complex carb like a Japanese sweet potato (with a sprinkle of chia seeds + flax seeds)
A cooked veggie — lately it’s been beets

Warm, grounding, and realistic. These plates keep me fed without decision fatigue, and they prevent the “I forgot to eat so now I’m feral” spiral. Not aesthetic. Just effective.

ONE TOOL

[ my free notion template — redesign your life 2026 ]

I built this because I was tired of goal-setting that ignored reality, capacity, and nervous system health. This template helps you zoom out, reassess what’s working, and design a life that actually supports the person you’re becoming — not the one you’re forcing yourself to be.

It’s already been viewed by 150,000+ people, which tells me I’m not the only one craving a slower, smarter way to plan.

If you want something grounded — not hypey, not hustle-coded — this is where I’d put your energy as we move into 2026.

Download the template for free here!

Thank you for reading the 7th issue of The Art of Unlearning!

Are there any topics you want me to talk about in the next issue or in a video or post? Drop me a note to hello@artofanna.com. I respond to every email :)

Be sure to stop by my youtube for more content!

Much love, and I’ll catch you next month!