Kristen Gyles | Starting at 2:41 on a Friday afternoon

Welcome to the first day of ‘Twixmas’. ‘Twixmas’ is a relatively new term to describe the transitional period betwixt Christmas and the New Year.

It’s that awkward period where people don’t quite know what to do with themselves. The festivities of Christmas are over, yet the “new year, new me” motivation is yet to kick in. Work offices are near-empty during this time, and of those who are working, half are either fighting the flu or are so dazed and clueless they hardly remember what day of the week it is.

Twixmas feels like so much of a blur probably because of the illusion that we have to wait until the new year to become productive again. These six days are, by default, the time we use, whether consciously or not, to reflect on how our lives have been going and how we can make things better. It is a time for thinking - not for doing. Doing starts on January 1 and not a day earlier. So until then, we write in our journals, create our vision boards, and make our New Year’s resolutions.

While the intention behind New Year’s resolutions is admirable, we all know meaningful change doesn’t need to wait for a specific date. Life doesn’t operate on a calendar reset. Challenges arise, opportunities appear, and we learn lessons continuously. These lessons that we learn are not always neatly packaged at the start of a new year. Waiting for January likely means postponing growth we’re already ready for. If we recognise in March that we need to manage our time better or in August that our health deserves more attention, delaying action until the next “fresh start” only keeps us stuck longer than necessary. But for some reason, we do it every year.

NEW YEAR RESOLUTION

Of course, we are right in time to join the New Year’s resolution tradition since we are only six days away from January 1. But the question is ... Why wait? Why not start right now? And even if not now, is it not okay to start on any random Friday? Or to start at the end of the month? Or to start at 2:41 p.m.? Every day offers the same 24 hours and the same potential for progress. We don’t need standard time markers to start the journey towards self-improvement.

Furthermore, starting goals outside the new year can actually make them more sustainable. Without the noise of collective resolution-making and comparison, intentions become more personal and realistic. Change that grows from self-awareness, rather than social expectation, is more likely to last.

On top of that, the ‘62’ days of January are globally known to be the ‘brokest’ days of the year. For all those who spent money they didn’t have in December, the loan sharks will be knocking at the front door bright and early on January 2. Isn’t it then really the worst time for resolutions? Many Januarys come with financial strain, emotional fatigue, and the weight of high expectations. Goals risk becoming stressful obligations under such conditions. Then when resolutions inevitably falter, people are left feeling like they have failed when in reality, the problem may have just been poor timing and not necessarily poor discipline.

PRESSURE

Another thing about the all-too-familiar new year pressure is that not everyone needs a new year’s resolution. Goal setting is a valuable part of self-improvement but only when there is a genuine need for change. When no such need exists, forcing ourselves to come up with resolutions simply because it is expected can easily become a fault-finding exercise. Instead of appreciating where we are, we start digging for flaws that hardly even exist.

With that said, there are moments when change is necessary. Wanting better habits, new opportunities, or a shift in direction is great, but goals should not be overwhelming, unrealistic, or rooted in comparison. Many resolutions collapse under the weight of impossible expectations, especially when we are far too hard on ourselves from the start.

It has been a long and eventful year for many of us, especially for those who have had to navigate the ‘crawsis’ of Hurricane Melissa - whether financial, physical, emotiona, or otherwise. As we move towards 2026, perhaps the most radical resolution we can make is to give ourselves grace. That is, grace to live, to grow at our own pace, and to enjoy life whether or not the calendar says it’s time for change.

Kristen Gyles is a free-thinking public affairs opinionator. Send feedback to kristengyles@gmail.com and columns@gleanerjm.com.