Should You Keep That New Year's Habit or Let It Go? Human Design Has Answers

"Tune into who you are and what you really want, not the conditions surrounding you."

We're several weeks into the new year now—that sweet spot where the initial excitement has worn off and reality has set in. Maybe you're crushing your new habits and feeling great. Or maybe you're starting to wonder if that resolution you set on January 1st is really yours, or if it's time to let it go.

Here's what I want you to know: the answer isn't about willpower, discipline, or pushing through. It's about tuning into your Human Design and trusting what your body is telling you.

Trust Yourself

A Different Lens on Habits

Today I want to explore what it looks like to evaluate your habits through the lens of Human Design—specifically through the experience of Projectors. While I talk a lot about Generators and Manifesting Generators (because that's my type), Projectors make up about 25% of the population and have a completely different energetic experience when it comes to building new habits.

Projectors are our natural teachers and leaders. They're designed to see systems, guide others, and offer deep wisdom. But living in a world dominated by Generators and Manifesting Generators—who have abundant energy for things that light them up—can sometimes feel challenging for Projectors. The energetic template is simply different.

Understanding Energy and Rest in Human Design

Let me be clear about something: the idea that Projectors are just "off taking naps all the time" is a misconception. You may know Projectors in your life who have tremendous energy. Different parts of the chart drive energy in different ways.

But here's what is true: Projectors need to honor their need for rest, and they thrive when they find the right spaces and people to support them.

So if you're a Projector evaluating your new habits, start here:

• Do you feel supported by the spaces and people in your life right now?

• Are you honoring your genuine need for rest, or are you operating from "have to" or "should"?

If it's a "have to" or a "should," that's your first signal to check in.

The Identity Center: Who Are You With?

Let me walk you through an example. Imagine you're a Projector with an open identity center—that diamond shape in the middle of your chart.

People with an open identity center are naturally versatile. They may show up differently depending on who they're with. This is not fake or inauthentic—it's part of their design. But when it comes to building habits, this can create some interesting dynamics.

Let's say your new habit is to read more. Maybe a book a month or a certain number of pages each week.

You're with your parent who's an avid reader, and they tell you, "You should read more—it'll help you in so many areas of life!" And you think, "Yes! That sounds great. I'm totally doing this. I'm in."

Then you get home to your partner who isn't a reader and spends their free time differently. Suddenly, that desire to read drops off.

This is where the work comes in: Getting comfortable with the fact that you show up differently in different contexts, while also coming back to your authority to ask: What do I really want?

Are you excited by the idea because your parent said it and it seems good for them? Or does it genuinely ring true for you?

If it doesn't resonate, let it go. Focus on habits that are actually nourishing for you.

But if it does resonate and you want to build this habit, you might need to:

• Find a different spot to read where you're in your own energy

• Communicate with your partner: "I'd love your support in staying accountable with this"

• Create structure that honors your design, not someone else's

The Tension of the 1-3 Profile

Now let's add another layer. If you're a 1-3 Projector, you've got some interesting tension when it comes to habits.

The line 1 is all about knowledge, expertise, learning everything there is to know. You want to research, understand, and master before you begin.

The line 3 is about getting in there, doing it, being hands-on, experiencing it, making mistakes, and trying again.

Can you hear the tension? "I want to be an expert, but I also need to be comfortable with making mistakes."

For the 1-3 profile, some reflection questions:

• Am I finding the balance between research and action?

• Am I letting the need to "know it all" hold me back from just starting?

• Do I want to let go of this habit because it's not going as perfectly as I thought, or can I get more comfortable with the experimentation process?

This is where your design can give you so much compassion for yourself. You're not failing—you're navigating a natural tension in how you're wired.

Always Come Back to Authority

Here's the bottom line: it all comes back to your authority.

For our example Projector with emotional authority, the guidance is clear: sleep on it. Wait for calm clarity to come in.

Before you decide to double down or let go of a habit, ask yourself:

• Did I make this decision in the height of "It's the new year, I have to change!"?

• Did I make it in the low of "What am I even doing with my life?"

• Or did I make it in a place of calm clarity?

If it wasn't made from calm clarity, you can come back to it. Sleep on it. Wait for that clear knowing to emerge.

The Emotional Wave: Riding the Ups and Downs

If you have a defined emotional center (like our example Projector with the 41-30 channel—the imagination channel), you experience emotional waves. This is part of your design.

For the 41-30 specifically, there can be a lot of expectation. When things are going well, it feels really good. But if there's an obstacle or you feel like you're not living up to your expectations, you might crash hard. You might think, "Forget it, I can't do this, I'm letting it all go."

This is why waiting for calm clarity is so crucial. You need to ride out the wave before making the decision. Don't let the crash make the call—let the calm clarity guide you.

My Experience: Trusting the Gut

As a Generator with sacral authority, my experience with habits is different but equally instructive.

I know when it's time to make a change. It's a gut knowing—quick, sometimes spontaneous, but clear.

A couple of years ago, I felt it was time to work with a personal trainer. I'd been going to the gym consistently, but as I got older, I knew I needed more support with lifting weights effectively and balancing strength with cardio. The decision came quickly, almost spontaneously. I've now been working with that trainer for over two years, and it's been incredibly positive.

I didn't need to make a pros and cons list. I didn't need to research for months. My gut said yes, and I responded.

With my open head and root centers (what we call the "pressure sandwich"), I've learned to ground myself before starting new things. Although honestly? Sometimes it feels good to ride that pressure wave. Like today—it was chaotic, but I was moving between projects, getting things done, and it felt kind of fun. I knew I'd accomplish what I needed to.

But having awareness of those open centers has also helped me know when I need to ground. More meditation on those days. Getting intentional with my to-do list. Putting things on my calendar at specific times so there's structure saying, "Stop. It's time to do this."

It's not sexy. But my gut says it works. Keep it simple.

Your Reflection Practice

As you look at your own habits right now—the ones you're trying to build or wondering whether to keep—here's what I invite you to explore:

1. Look at your centers (the shapes on your chart): Are they open or defined? What wisdom might they hold about how you're approaching this habit?

2. Explore your profile numbers: Is there something in your profile that speaks to how you learn, experiment, or show up in the world that could inform your approach?

3. Always come back to your authority: What does your decision-making strategy tell you? Don't bypass this—it's your compass.

4. Check your channels: Especially any channels related to decision-making, energy, or how you feel supported in your body. They can offer insight into what to hold onto and what to release.

The Real Question

Here's what matters most: Are you tuning into who you are and what you really want, or are you responding to the conditions surrounding you?

Are these habits aligned with your design and your authority, or are they borrowed from someone else's idea of what you should be doing?

Your Human Design isn't here to add more pressure or more "shoulds" to your life. It's here to give you permission to trust yourself—to know when to persist and when to let go, when to rest and when to move, when to say yes and when to say no.

If a habit isn't working, maybe it's not about discipline. Maybe it's about alignment.

And that's a much more interesting—and compassionate—place to start.

Ready to explore your own chart? Generate your free Human Design chart at humandesignblueprint.com. I'd love to hear how you're using Human Design to navigate your habits and goals this year—send me your thoughts at ashleywatkinscoaching@gmail.com.