Holding Steady as the Calendar Turns.

There’s something about the days right after Christmas that always make me pause. The world is already talking about resolutions and fresh starts, but for me, looking toward a new year comes with a mix of hope and heaviness. Living with anxiety and vestibular hypo‑function means I don’t just think about the future, I feel it in my body. The uncertainty, the “not knowing,” the possibility of symptoms flaring… it all lands differently.

I never quite know what a new year will bring. And when your balance system is unpredictable, the future can feel that way too, a little unsteady, a little blurry around the edges, a little too big to hold all at once.

What This Time of Year Brings Up for Me

As the calendar gets ready to flip, my mind starts drifting into those quiet, practical worries:

• Will my symptoms stay manageable

• Will I have the energy I need

• Will I be able to handle whatever comes

These aren’t dramatic fears. They’re the everyday ones that come with living in a body that doesn’t always cooperate and a mind that likes to race ahead.

How I Cope With the Unknown

Over time, I’ve learned a few things that help me soften the fear of the future instead of letting it swallow me.

1. I take the year in small pieces

A whole year is too big for me to imagine. So I don’t.

I focus on the next day, the next morning, the next small thing that brings comfort. Shrinking the timeline makes the future feel less overwhelming.

2. I create calm where I can

I keep my space simple and soothing. A quieter environment helps my nervous system settle, and when my body feels steadier, my thoughts follow.

3. I name what’s worrying me

When the “what ifs” start piling up, I write them down. Not to fix them, just to get them out of my head. Seeing them on paper makes them feel less like a fog and more like something I can breathe through.

4. I return to grounding rituals

A warm drink. A slow morning. A meditation. A moment of stillness.

These small rituals remind me that I don’t have to figure out the whole year today. I just have to be here, now.

5. I remind myself of my resilience

I’ve made it through every unpredictable year so far, even the hard ones. I’ve adapted, rested, rebuilt, and kept going. My vestibular system may wobble, but I don’t fall apart. I’ve proven that to myself again and again.

What I’m carrying Into the New Year

I don’t need to be fearless to move forward. I don’t need a perfect plan. I don’t need to know what the year will look like. I just need to keep showing up in the small, steady ways that help me feel grounded.

And that, I can do.