44. No Motivation to Set New Year Goals? 4 Reasons to Rethink Goal-Setting in January

Practical Solutions for PTSD | Anxiety Symptoms, Seasonal Depression, Isolation, Stress, Guilt, Boundaries, Loneliness · Jan 13, 2026 · 22m

January is often framed as the time to get serious about goals. But for many people living with anxiety symptoms, seasonal depression, PTSD, or chronic stress, winter brings low energy, brain fog, isolation, loneliness, and guilt instead of motivation.

In this episode, we take a trauma-informed look at goal-setting through the lens of seasonal biology. You’ll learn why winter can elevate stress hormones, reduce cognitive flexibility, and make planning feel unsafe, and why late spring and early summer are often more supportive for long-term goals.

Rather than pushing through, this conversation…