A Year full of Choices!

Every year tends to begin in much the same way 😅

As if we collectively press a reset button. We tell ourselves we’ll do things differently, live more consciously, take better care of ourselves… and January feels like a fresh start — a moment where everything is still open 🥳

Many people begin this period with “Dry January”, a month without alcohol. Not so much as a sacrifice, but more as an experiment — a way to understand what alcohol does to their body and whether they might feel different after a month of abstaining. What may feel like a challenge at first, quickly turns into a more conscious way of choosing.

Then usually comes “Tournée Minérale”. What may still have been a personal choice in January suddenly becomes something collective 🥂

You realize you’re not alone, that a movement is forming, where more and more people are making the same choice. It brings a different kind of energy — less individual, more supported.

Whether you choose February because it’s the shortest month of the year, or January because your motivation is still at its peak to complete those 31 alcohol-free days… it doesn’t really matter. As long as the end result feels right for you, it’s a successful experiment.

And then comes March…

Not really a month with a clear name that sticks. Sometimes initiatives like “Meat-out March” appear, where food takes center stage and people choose vegetarian or plant-based eating. But beyond the unpredictable weather (March showers, April whims), March mostly feels like a month without structure. No big campaigns, no collective agreements guiding you — and that’s perhaps what makes March so special.

It becomes a month for what truly fits you.

Just you and your habits 🙏🏽

Throughout the year, these moments of awareness keep returning, each time in a different form.

April often brings a focus on movement. The weather becomes a little more pleasant, people go outside, and the month is often referred to as “Active April”. Walking and cycling suddenly feel appealing again — especially when the weather April behaves and the sun gently starts warming our skin… a perfect excuse to soak up some vitamin D 😂

In May, there’s a shift in attention. Whether or not “all birds lay eggs in May”, it’s a time where nature is actively building. And while we may not be building nests ourselves, our focus often shifts towards our impact. Initiatives like reducing plastic use and becoming more conscious of what we consume come into play. “Plastic-Free May” raises awareness about the environment — and whether in Belgium or elsewhere, taking a small bag along on a walk to pick up plastic or rubbish suddenly feels meaningful.

June feels lighter, more playful, with a focus on being outdoors, moving, and reconnecting with simplicity. People head into nature to walk, picnic, and just "be". If we follow the rhythm of the previous months, June stands for “Junior Jungle” — or simply an active month. Often focused on getting children outside and moving, while fitness challenges also start popping up. For us, June means terrace weather and the start of festival season 🥳

In July, people often refer to “Dry July”, and August is sometimes called “Alcohol-Free August” or “Vegan August”. July is usually linked to a greater cause or commitment, such as raising funds for cancer research. August is less prominent, but still used by some as a moment to be more mindful about food and drinks.

When September arrives, it feels like a second starting point for many. A time when habits are questioned again, and people consciously shift towards a different way of living, working, and moving. Maybe the start of the school year has something to do with that? The month is often called “Switch September” and revolves around changing habits.

October then makes that shift even more concrete, with initiatives like quitting smoking “Stoptober” or going alcohol-free again “Sober October”.

Perhaps in preparation for the holiday season that is approaching, or simply as a personal initiative to become more conscious of what we often put into our bodies without really thinking about it.

“Veggie November / Movember” gives November a bit more body. The focus returns to food — vegetarian or vegan (Veggie November) — and to health, to oneself, to what the body truly needs. Or attention is drawn specifically to men’s health, with many men growing moustaches that month 🥸 (Movember).

And then comes December…

A month traditionally centered around abundance… yet here too, a counter-movement appears. “Do-cember” often focuses on giving, volunteering, or consciously enjoying without excess. A softer way of experiencing, with more attention to slowing down, giving, and being present.

What connects all these months is not the challenge itself. It’s the intention behind it.

People no longer wait for one moment in the year to change something.

They look for ways to adjust throughout the year. Not all at once, not perfectly, but in small steps. At their own pace, in their own way.

Maybe that’s the biggest shift we’re seeing today.

It’s no longer about drastic changes or strict rules, but about conscious choices. About feeling what works and what doesn’t. About allowing space to try, to stop, and to begin again.

And maybe that’s also why March never really got a name.

Because it’s not a month of starting, but of continuing. Of discovering what remains when the noise fades away.

We probably don’t need a campaign for that.

Because it’s exactly there, in the quiet, where the choice truly becomes yours.

"Every month is a new chance to choose what lights you up"