New Year, Wild You

Reset in the Outdoors

By: Sherry Bruner 

The holiday season brings joy and excitement—but for many, it also brings strain. More becomes the unspoken theme: more commitments, more spending, more connection, more noise. By the time the calendar turns, that abundance often leaves us depleted. January finds us already deep into winter, when the world around us has settled into slumber. Snow blankets the ground and softens sound, as if nature itself is saying hush. Nights stretch long, mornings arrive slowly, and everything feels quieter. It’s a season that resists urgency. And yet, every year, we ask ourselves to do the opposite—to start strong, go hard, and reinvent everything at once.

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

What if the new year invited a reset instead?

Winter has never been about blooming. In nature, it’s a time of rest, quiet recalibration, and conservation. Nothing is wasted; nothing is rushed. Out here, the land reminds us that growth comes later—and only after stillness. Dormancy always precedes renewal.

Yet many of us abandon our New Year’s resolutions before the middle of January, convinced we’ve failed. But perhaps the failure isn’t personal. Perhaps it’s seasonal. Montana winters bring shorter days, colder temperatures, and a natural slowing of both body and mind—biological cues that invite rest rather than acceleration. When we expect peak productivity during this time, we often slip into all-or-nothing thinking, disconnecting from both our bodies and the rhythms that shape them.

Research in behavioral psychology and neuroscience supports this intuition. Sustainable change depends not on intensity, but on nervous system safety. When goals are rigid or demanding, stress hormones rise, emotional capacity narrows, and motivation drops. Many resolutions fail not because we lack discipline, but because they ignore how we’re wired to regulate stress, energy, and attention.

James Clear, author of Atomic Habit, emphasizes small, consistent systems over dramatic goals: “Success is the product of daily habits—not once-in-a-lifetime transformations.” Nature models this truth effortlessly. Nothing worthwhile happens quickly. Growth unfolds slowly, season by season, after rest has done its quiet work.

It’s not that we’re failing. It’s that we’re fighting biology—and winter, in particular, asks us to choose gentleness over force.

Time outdoors offers a different approach—one rooted in grace rather than grit.

Research consistently shows that spending time in nature lowers cortisol levels, improves mood, and calms the nervous system. Even brief walks outdoors have been shown to reduce rumination and support emotional well-being. Japan’s long-studied practice of *shinrin-yoku*, or forest bathing, links time among trees with lower stress hormones and improved immune function.

You don’t need a national park or a grand expedition to experience these benefits. In Yellowstone County, they’re woven into everyday life: a sunrise walk along the Rims, a quiet loop through Riverfront Park after a fresh snowfall, cross-country skiing on local golf courses, or a winter hike at Four Dances or the Back 9. Even standing still outside with a warm mug while morning light settles over the valley can be enough.

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” —John Muir

There’s a deeper invitation here—one that has less to do with fitness and more to do with how we treat ourselves. When we allow space for rest, imperfection, and gentleness, consistency becomes possible. Nature models this effortlessly. Seasonal cycle. Dormancy returns to growth.

Being gentle with ourselves doesn’t mean giving up. It means choosing sustainability over burnout. Showing up once or twice a week, imperfectly and without fanfare, is often more powerful than any all-or-nothing resolution. Outdoors, grace feels tangible. 

The land doesn’t care how fast you move, how far you go, or whether you skipped last week. It welcomes you back exactly as you are.

Perhaps this January, the invitation isn’t to start strong—but to start softly.

A Gentle Way to Begin the Year

Starting softly doesn’t mean doing nothing. Winter is not passive—it’s purposeful. Beneath the surface, nature is conserving energy, strengthening roots, and letting go of what can’t be carried forward. Trees shed their leaves. Perennials die back. Many plants are pruned in winter, not to diminish them, but to prepare them to grow back stronger in spring.

Rather than adding more goals, January can be a time to remove what no longer serves, to pause before pushing forward, and to create space for what wants to emerge next.

Begin with pruning. Ask yourself what feels heavy or unnecessary right now—a habit, a commitment, a digital distraction, or an expectation you’ve placed on yourself. Letting go creates room for vitality.

Resist the urge to start something new. Winter is better suited for reflection than initiation. Journaling, slow walks, and unstructured time outdoors can help clarify what’s worth carrying into the next season.

Choose one small rhythm instead of a big resolution. A weekly winter walk. Five quiet minutes outside each morning. One intentional outing a week, regardless of distance or pace. Nature works in patterns, not overhauls.

Spring will come in its own time. Until then, winter offers a different kind of beginning—one rooted in rest, grace, and quiet recalibration. Let the wild reset you slowly. Let it strip away what isn’t needed. And trust that when the season shifts, growth will follow—without force, and right on time.

More from the Experts at The Base Camp 

About The Base Camp 

The Base Camp is Montana's premier outdoor store, serving the Billings and Helena communities for nearly five decades, providing high-quality clothing, footwear, outdoor equipment, and Montana lifestyle gifts. 

As a locally owned, family-run business passionate about the outdoors and our communities, we are dedicated to fueling the spirit of outdoor adventure and delivering superior service. Our mission is to be your go-to destination for your outdoor pursuits, equipping adventurers with essential gear for any journey. 

Beyond retail, The Base Camp fosters a community of outdoor enthusiasts, inspiring and supporting your love for nature with knowledgeable and friendly staff. Visit The Base Camp – where the spirit of the great outdoors comes to life, and your adventures begin.