On reframing winter arcs, creativity resets & pressing pause❄️

Hey friend,

Writing this, I’m heading into the last week of work in my business. Wrapping up today was always the goal—possibly tying up a couple of things over the next few days. You?

Like so many people who run their own businesses, I love the time between Christmas and New Year to take stock, reflect, and plan. It’s literally one of my favourite times of year.

The spaciousness.

The possibility.

Maybe the new notebooks.

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Reframing the winter arc

A few weeks back I received a beautiful marketing email about the “winter arc.”

The poet in me latched onto this idea of a seasonal metamorphosis, of winter’s deep beneath-the-surface work.

I was thinking solstice-y light. Notebooks out. Retreat style. Dreaming myself into a cosy chrysalis.

I hadn’t appreciated the “winter arc” is in fact a TikTok-fuelled intensive personal development strategy that you level up into, October through to December, to create momentum and move into the new year all peak performance. Possibly even ripped.

The vibe: Everyone’s partying, I’m building.

It feels a little Stephen Bartlett. Locked in and loaded. Much as I loved his recent DOAC with Brené Brown, I am too depleted for this level of commitment right now.

Instead, I’m taking the idea and making it my own—Winter’s Arc: Antonia’s Version.

Less optimisation, more reflection.
Less PR bitch, more poet.
Less pushing, more presence.

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Into the quiet season

Heading into these quieter weeks, I feel myself craving rest, resets, and recalibration. Q1 already looks full and, like Robert Frost said, “I have promises to keep.“

Mostly to myself. It’s time to press pause.

Here’s what I’m taking into my chilled-out, self-paced winter arc:

Creative reset

As a devotee to a “Create First” practice, these past few months have seen my habits slip a little.*

Sneaking in a piece of work over a writing session. Sending a client email instead of reading a poem. Getting a task ticked off rather than sitting with a piece of writing.

I know the creative practice I’ve built over the years feels like a luxury, but it’s also deeply essential to fuelling the other parts of my work. It’s who I am. And I’m starting to feel it.

It’s easily fixed. Resetting a writing schedule. Allowing myself time in coffee shops, notebook in hand. Reconnecting to creativity. Reading all the poetry. There may be naps.

*Completely

Reflection

Thirteen years running my own business, I know that you can’t set goals without understanding how to become the person you need to be to hold the new outcome. This starts with reflection. Inventory. A point of becoming.

I’ve mentioned I’m a fan of Selina Barker’s Goodbye 2025 Hello 2026 journal. I’m also going to come back to my morning pages practice—another thing that’s slipped.

Being in nature

While my walking pad has been hands-down the best money I spent in 2025, it has meant that while I’ve hit my daily 10k steps goal (give or take), I’ve been out in the world less. For someone who loves sunlight and trees and Vitamin D, this isn’t working out. Again, my bad choices have been optimisation and function rather than sustenance and soul.

The last few years I’ve had the lovely tradition of a long solstice walk with two cherished friends. I’ll start there.

Nervous system work

For recalibration and capacity and connection. I’m reading Anchored by Deb Dana, taking deeper breaths, trying to slow the f**k down. Just for now.

I’ve also been learning about co-regulation—being around other people who make you feel safe and connected. I am so lucky to be in the orbit of so many incredible women: expansive, supportive, inspiring.

If I’m being honest, sometimes I feel guilty writing about this- like “Look at me with my amazing successful friends.” Especially when so many people experience loneliness, particularly at this time of year. I get it, because I do too.

And I also deeply value the community I’ve built, the connections I’ve fostered, and the friendships I’ve invested in that have formed a huge part of enriching my business and work and life. And I think it’s important to celebrate those people around you. So here I am, celebrating you.

Being Seen Visibility Challenge

I shared this in the last Conversation and am so excited by everyone who’s said “I’m in.” I’ll be pulling this together in coming weeks.

It’s going to be an exercise, prompt, or action each week to reframe and reset your relationship with your visibility practice.

Possibly some lives and online gatherings to build:

✨ Clarity - who you are, what you stand for

✨ Conversation - engaging with others

✨ Connection - building relationships + community

✨ Contribution - sharing value, lifting others

✨ Capacity - sustaining your visibility practice with ease

Because one thing I know about visibility is that it starts with how you see yourself.

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The challenge will be delivered through this newsletter, supplemented with LinkedIn and Instagram.

Expect the first email to land in your inbox 1st January. I know. But starting matters.

For now, I’m wishing you a happy Christmas and peaceful New Year. With hugest gratitude to you, friend, for being here another year.❤️

With love,

Antonia