What Season Are You In?
This year, I’ve been learning a valuable lesson about the power of recognizing and defining the seasons we move through.
At the start of the year, I worked through a fantastic digital planner by Alison Hill to map out my year. It helped me not only choose my “One Word” for the year but also outline the stages—or seasons—that would shape my focus over the next 12 months. And let me tell you, it’s been a game-changer.
Here’s why.
Defining Your Seasons: A Framework for the Year
By identifying the big “rocks” of projects, goals, and priorities, I was able to map out an expected flow for the year, aligning it roughly to the annual quarters. Here’s how it broke down:
Q1: Ready
With a major project delivery due in May, I knew the first quarter of the year needed to be about preparation. I focused on eating well, getting enough sleep, exercising, and organizing everything to set myself up for success. This season was all about getting into the best possible shape for the demanding months ahead.
Q2: Run
When Q2 arrived, it was go-time. I gave myself permission in advance to go all-in, knowing this would be a season of imbalance. My goal was to sprint through the lead-up to the project delivery without guilt or hesitation. Because it was a planned season, I embraced the intensity and didn’t beat myself up for letting other priorities—like blogging—take a back seat for a while.
Q3: Rest
Here’s where it gets tough for me. Rest doesn’t come naturally, and when it does, I tend to feel guilty about it. But I knew this season was critical for long-term sustainability—not just in productivity but in my well-being and relationships. This isn’t about taking a months-long holiday; it’s about rebalancing work hours, reconnecting with loved ones, and rediscovering what brings me joy.
Q4: Reimagine
As the year winds down, Q4 will be a time to reflect and dream. This season is all about looking ahead to the coming year, setting new goals, and mapping out the seasons to come. But to do that effectively, I’ll need the margin I’ve built in my Rest season.
Why Define Your Seasons?
Defining the silhouettes of the seasons you’re in—even while acknowledging that life often throws us unexpected curveballs—has been an incredibly powerful exercise. Here’s why:
1. It Gives You Perspective
When I hit my “Run” season, it was tough, no question. But knowing it was a planned, temporary season gave me perspective. I had signed up for this, and it wasn’t going to last forever. That understanding helped me dig deeper and push harder because I knew this was the season for it.
2. It Gives You Permission
Understanding the season I’m in has helped me let go of guilt. During “Run,” I didn’t feel bad about the long hours. During “Rest,” I didn’t feel guilty about booking a holiday or scaling back. Recognizing my season gave me permission to focus on what truly mattered in that moment.
3. It Prompts You Toward Your Goals
I’m not naturally great at planning for rest. I tend to push until I hit a wall and then take time off without much forethought. But knowing in advance that I had a season dedicated to rest prompted me to plan months ahead for what I knew would help me recharge. Similarly, during “Ready” and “Run,” I made intentional decisions that supported the priorities of those seasons.
Embrace the Power of Seasons
Stretching seasons are always tough, but recognizing that they’re just that—a season—makes them so much more manageable. And when you find yourself in a season of margin, recognizing it allows you to fully embrace and make the most of it, knowing it won’t last forever.
There’s incredible power in recognizing and embracing the seasons of our years and our lives. As we approach the mid-year mark, take a moment to reflect:
What kind of season are you in right now?
What does this season require of you?
And how can you prepare for the season that lies ahead?