Paul Cramer

There’s a strange feeling that lives in the days between Christmas and New Year’s. Relief. Fatigue. A quiet pressure to “get ready” for January. And, if we’re honest, a bit of self-judgment about how the year went. But your body isn’t asking for a new version of you. It’s asking for a chance to feel like yourself again.

Mindset cue: movement snacks beat motivation Motivation dips when it’s cold or dark out. So rely less on “feel like it” and more on “just do two minutes.” Set a cue: brew your coffee, walk for two minutes. Drop your shoes by the door. Keep a resistance band next to your keys. The friction to start is minimal—and the win is real.

Why You Might Not Feel It Right Away Immediately after an accident, adrenaline and stress hormones flood the body. They help you stay alert and focused — but they also mask pain. Once those chemicals start to settle (usually over the next 24–72 hours), stiffness, soreness, and even headaches can start to show up. This delay is completely normal and part of how your nervous system and immune system respond to injury.