What Is Quiet February and Why Is It Important?

2026 has started off with a bang. A whirlwind of activity, opportunities . . . so many whirls, so many winds. And while I don't want to give up a single thing I'm doing, I am finding that I need a bit of Quiet.

Not the kind of quiet that's "Hey, turn the music down, it's too loud!" It's more that I need to say "Hey, world, my brain and I are taking a break from you--we need a little time to get to know each other again."

Obviously this will mean different things for different people, but this is what Quiet February means for me:

1. Peaceful mornings (even if it's only the first few minutes). I will begin each day with no phone. As in, I will not pick it up to check my email, read those late-sent texts, take a look to see how many of you did midnight shopping at The Creative Farm Girl, or anything else that involves my phone. I need to start my day unencumbered by whatever the world is saying.

2. Precious free moments of nothing. I will not play any of those super addicting phone games--mostly because I find myself filling those few precious free moments I do have with trying to beat my last sudoko time. Those precious free moments for me need to be spent looking at my surroundings, finding a happy thought, or meeting a new person who has also decided to not bury themselves in their screen.

3. Reflecting often. I'm even cutting down on podcasts and books that I listen to. These are both really great things, but I have been known to drive to the gym listening to a podcast, and continuing to listen as I get ready, as I drive to work, as I fold the clothes, or make dinner. I've even left the shower door open as I shower, so I can keep listening. Yeah, I need to calm down. My brain needs some space to ruminate on all that I've been filling it with lately.

4. Gratitude always. I will end each day with some journaling or drawing or praying on the thankfulness I carry but not always show.

As I enter into day 3, I've already been feeling my brain relax. And you know what happens when your brain relaxes? It starts dreaming of beautiful things it hasn't had the chance to, because many of us insist on filling it all the time with things that don't really matter. At least that's what I've been doing lately.

So this month, I encourage you to practice your own kind of Quiet February--whether that means a little less TV, a little less news, a little less of whatever you stuff your brain with and trade it for more peace, more moments of nothing, more reflections, and more gratitude.

Let's do this.