The Buffer Period
There’s 1 January New Year, and then there’s the Lunar New Year. Between the two dates is my “buffer period”.
My New Year doesn’t really – officially – start until after the Lunar New Year.
I consider time between 1 January and the Lunar New Year, usually falling between January or February, as a “buffer period”. This year, Lunar New Year falls on 17 February. That’s 47 days between the two New Years.
Maybe it’s just me: but I always feel like I’m in this weird limbo phase during this time. Neither here nor there. Wanting to kick off the New Year but not quite yet because there’s another one after.
1 January’s New Year is “logically” the start of the year based on the Gregorian calendar. Lunar New Year, follows the Chinese lunar calendar, marking the beginning of Spring season.
I feel I couldn’t start the year proper until the Lunar New Year is over and done with. Because being a Chinese living in Malaysia, I also grew up celebrating this cultural festival. This meant helping out to prepare for the festivities, family reunion and all that. It’s a big deal. Like, my-dad-would-disown-me-if-I-don’t-return-home-for-this-festival-and-be-with-family kind of a big deal.
Presence is important. Doesn’t matter if we’re celebrating it in the big way or more low-key. That was the deal: I must physically be in my hometown, this one time each year, regardless where I live the rest of the year. Luckily I don’t live halfway across the world to do this.
Between these two New Years, I usually do much for anything. Work would resume as usual after wrapping up the previous year. But I’d still be wrapping up work and things until the Lunar New Year.
The other reason is also because December, especially its last two weeks, tend to be “quieter” in terms of work. Well, in my line of work. While everyone else gets into the holiday mood, I get busy trying to get around to do the things I didn’t get to the rest of the year – like accounting, and planning.
That’s why it’s a buffer. What I can’t complete at the end of the previous year, I still have several weeks to do so. It ain’t officially the New Year proper until we hit the Lunar New Year.
Or maybe I’m just horrible with time management.
Or maybe I don’t feel ready enough to jump into another year just yet.
Whatever the reason, I think I prefer to ease into the New Year than get all fired up at the start only to lose steam by March.
Technically the Lunar New Year comes with a few days of festivities, and usually ends fifteen days after. But first three days of the festival is enough for me to finally start the year already.
It would also be overkill for me to drag on the buffer period to the start of the astrological new year with Aries season in April. Would it?
Anyway, long story short: Happy 2026!
More/Less
On Day 1 of every 1 January New Year, I’d take some time to reflect the year before and then write my More and Less list for the year. It’s a practice inspired by Julia Rothman and Elizabeth Haidle, which I find more sustainable because it’s about cultivating habits than a specific goal. Well, to me anyway.
I’ve been doing this for a few years now. Every year, the list is about the same but with a few tweaks here and there (clearly, I need more work on those), and new ones added in. This year’s list seems a wee longer than expected. But it’ll do.
Do you practice something like this as a New Year ritual? Or you’re more of a vision board, or resolutions kind of person? I’m curious.
The More and Less list is a great idea. Thanks for sharing, Andrea.
I may be feeling a similar new year vibe as you. While I see so much commotion around new beginnings and good riddance, things are pretty much the same as usual for me (it could be because I am living out of a suitcase now). Your buffer period sounds like a gentler way to transition.