Photo by Colin Munch @seemunchphotos

Skaters glide across the ice at University District’s Free Winter Pop-up

on January 25

Stay in the loop. Win at trivia. Wow at parties.

Written by Nathan Iles

Why February, Not January, Is Alberta’s Real Fresh Start

Written by Stephanie Bauer 
Illustrations by Amber Solberg

Let’s be real. January is typically the “fresh start” month. New gym memberships. Budgeting apps downloaded. Pinterest boards full of meal-prep ideas. Big intentions, big dreams. And then… life happens.

Cold mornings. Dark commutes. Post-holiday chaos.

By the third week (hello Blue Monday), motivation is thinning, and your ambitious plan to run every morning or tackle that decluttering project? Probably on hold.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Research shows that about 43% of our daily behaviour is habitual, and most of what we do happens on autopilot. Habits are efficient, sure, but slow to change — and willpower alone often isn’t enough to override them.

That’s where timing and environment come in.  Dr. Wendy Wood, psychology and business professor, talks about reducing “friction”: an attempt to make good habits easier and bad habits harder. In Alberta, January is basically made of friction — slippery sidewalks, bitter wind, and early sunsets. Even a simple walk or smoothie prep feels monumental.

“January can set people up to fail,” shares Calgary-based Leader in Authentic Living, Meghan Makowsky. She says "the best time to build new habits… has everything to do with clarity and intention." She notes that while January can feel "symbolic because of New Year’s resolutions,” resolutions alone don’t create change. But rather, consistent, intentional action does. “When we place too much weight on dates, we indirectly give our environment permission to dictate our growth. Real change begins when you decide it does." 

Small shifts compound: shoes by the door, veggies pre-chopped, water where you can see it. Less friction, more follow-through.

Cue February. Light is creeping back. Routines are settling. The holiday chaos finally fades. Research in circadian rhythms shows that longer days boost mood, energy, and focus — exactly the conditions you need to actually stick with change.

For many Albertans, that shift shows up in everyday ways. Take Yvonne, a mom in Bridlewood. She tried a morning meditation streak in January but kept hitting the snooze button. By mid-February, with calmer mornings and the sun peeking over the horizon around 7:30 a.m., she found consistency — and enjoyment. “I thought I’d failed in January,” she laughs. “Turns out I just needed the timing to match my life, my rhythm.”

Environment matters here, too — not just seasonally, but locally. A reflective walk through Fish Creek Provincial Park, a low-pressure yoga class at Studio 85 Movement + Wellness, or hands-on care at community-focused clinics like Essence Wellness or Auburn Bay Physio Chiro Massage can create physical and mental space for change. Calgary Parks & Recreation’s low-cost wellness programs, or even a quiet walk through your neighbourhood pathways, offer accessible ways to reset without overhaul.

So, if January didn’t deliver your fresh start, it wasn’t a failure. Behavioural science, Alberta’s unique winters, and local stories all point to the same thing: mid-February is when the real reset happens. The lesson? The “fresh start” isn’t lost; it just waits for the right conditions to flourish.

Start the day off right

Written by Nathan Iles

Every new day is your chance to hit reset, grab some energy, and remember who you are before the world gets annoying.

Here’s your ridiculously simple morning wellness guide for a less painful wake-up.

1. Meditate as soon as you wake up. Studies show that just five minutes of meditation can lower heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and shift brain wave patterns toward a more relaxed state. All you need to get started is a quiet place to sit and count your breaths!
   
   
2. Drink a glass of water. Your body needs it; you’ve gone hours without drinking while sleeping, and hydrating first thing will increase your energy levels.
   
   
3. Journal first thing in the morning. People who do this tend to pursue goals and make positive changes with a lot of moxie. And do it with a pen and paper, not your phone. Speaking of which…
   
   
4. Leave your phone on the nightstand for an hour. Folks who check their phones within 30 minutes of waking average 6.5 hours of daily screen time, while those who wait at least an hour average only 3.2 hours. Grab a book instead, and soak in those morning rays.
   
   

Invest in your morning. Thank yourself later. And don’t forget to rock and roll.

Salty waits patiently for a treat at Tom Campbell Park.

What is this, anyway?

Randomly Validating is the newsletter of Random Acts by ATB, a new way to connect to our communities with no catch, tricks, or guilt trips. From free pet photos to meal deliveries, we pop-up in the spaces you use every day to provide relief and maybe even get a genuine, “Huh, that was cool!”

Some clues to where we’ll be this month:

• Look for us under a big roof surrounded by fresh produce and local crafts on the most romantic day of the year.
• Ever seen a ski jumper pulled by a horse? You’ll find us, bundled up and cheering, where the rivers meet.

Want to learn more about Random Acts? Have some friends who need a little Random Validation? *Game show chanting* Click. That. Button! */chanting*

P.S. Random Acts is by ATB, but there’s no catch. We won’t suddenly flood your inbox with promos, though we may occasionally send you things we think you’ll like.