Feeling Aligned and Behind: A New Year Paradox

At the beginning of the year, I created a poll on social media asking, “now that we’re in a new year, do you feel aligned or behind?” And I kid you not, everyone that answered, said BOTH.

As women entrepreneurs, stepping into a new year often brings an interesting mix of emotions. On one hand, there’s alignment—a sense of clarity around your goals, excitement for what’s to come, and maybe even a well-organized planner brimming with your vision. And on the other hand, there’s the nagging feeling of being behind—projects that didn’t get finished, self-care routines that slipped, and a lingering to-do list from last year that feels like a shadow you can’t shake.

This paradox is real, but let me be clear it is not a sign of failure—it’s a natural rhythm of ambition meeting life’s unpredictability.

Let’s explore how systems and self-care can acknowledge your feelings of alignment and of feeling behind and, more importantly, how you can use it all to move forward.

When Alignment Feels Right—But Your To-Do List Says Otherwise

Alignment feels like flow.

You’ve mapped out your quarterly business goals, automated core systems for your business, and have even proactively scheduled out your CEO days. Maybe you’ve even taken the time to reflect on what worked last year and what didn’t, ensuring your energy is focused on what truly matters. You’ve taken action to set up a client onboarding workflow in your CRM that makes the process seamless and your clients feel supported. And you have fired yourself from hours of manual administrative tasks time—hours you now use to focus on growth. You’ve even committed to that 10-minute morning meditation–knowing it’s not about the length of the meditation itself, but the ritual, grounding you in calm before the chaos of the day begins.

But then, the feeling of being behind creeps in.

Maybe you didn’t finish revamping your website as planned, and your social media calendar still has gaps. Your email inbox is overflowing, and you’re manually tracking invoices instead of using software that could automate it for you. You know there’s a better way, but the thought of setting it up yourself feels overwhelming. On the personal side, the workout plan you swore you’d start “on Monday” keeps getting pushed back. You’re skipping meals or grabbing whatever’s quickest, even though you know your energy tanks by mid-afternoon without proper nutrition. And Self-care in general feels like just another task you’re failing to manage.

Does that sound about right? If so, no wonder you’re feeling aligned and behind.

Why High-Achieving Women Struggle With the Aligned & Behind Paradox

Before we dive into solutions, let’s explore why this paradox exists in the first place.

We’ve Been Conditioned to Value Hustle Over Impact.

For many of us, it has been modeled that productivity equals worth—that if we’re not constantly moving, we’re falling behind. The idea of pausing, recalibrating, or working at a slower, more intentional pace feels wrong because it’s not what we’ve been taught.

Even when we know the pace of hustle culture is unsustainable, breaking free from it feels like swimming upstream.

We Mistake Speed for Progress.

This is often when scrolling through perfectly curated social media feeds gets us caught in the snare of the comparison trap. We assume the person launching the fastest is the most successful. But momentum isn’t the same as sustainability. The real question is: Are you building something that will last?

Our Goals Haven’t Caught Up to Our Shifts.

Sometimes we set goals from an outdated and limited mindset—the one that thrived on overworking, overcommitting, and overfunctioning. Now that we’re shifting, we feel disconnected from those goals and unsure of how to redefine success on our own terms.

How to Move Forward Without Feeling Behind

So, how do we move through this paradox without defaulting back to our burnout behaviors?

As a reminder, the feeling of being behind is just a signal—it’s a sign that you’re leaning into a new way of working and living. Below is a modified Self-Check to help you shift:

Put a Name to the Feeling & Identify the Root

• Are you really behind, or are you adjusting to a more sustainable pace?

• Are you measuring yourself by hustle culture standards or by what actually serves you now?

Reconnect With Your Version of Success

• Instead of asking, “Am I moving fast enough?” ask, “Am I moving in the right direction?”

• Replace urgency-driven goals and deadlines with sustainable, reimagined ones.

Take Aligned Action

• Choose one shift to implement based on your reimagined goals from above.

• Start small—momentum builds from consistency, not hustle-laced overhauls.

Embracing the Shift

The reality is, you can feel both aligned and behind at the same time—and that’s okay. The beauty of entrepreneurship is that it’s a journey, not a destination. By leaning into leveraging the power of systems and prioritizing your self-care, you can navigate this paradox with grace.

This year isn’t about being perfect; it’s about showing up for yourself, your business, and your goals—one intentional step at a time.

So, where will you start? Let me know in the comments or schedule a Connection Call—I really want to know how I can support you as you move forward.