'Life has been feeling hard lately. Then I learnt about the April Theory.'

Is it just me or have things been feeling a bit… off lately?

I'm not talking about the big, state-of-the-world stuff (although a lot of that's been feeling pretty unpleasant too).

It's more a ~vibe~; a general sense of 'ugh' that I know I've been wallowing in since, idk, January? And I'm definitely not the only one. So many people around me are saying they're feeling burnt out, despite only being a quarter of the way through the year.

People are stressed and struggling, and it shows.

But according to a little theory that's infiltrated my algorithm lately, things are going to turn around any second now (and I'm suddenly I'm feeling a wee bit more hopeful about the remaining three quarters of the year).

Now, one thing you need to know about me? I'm a total sucker for a TikTok theory.

I've carefully curated my fyp to be filled with videos that tell me why my life is the way it is, and I'll happily waste three hours scrolling, nodding along and sending the posts to approximately everyone I know for that sweet, sweet external validation.

So when I stumbled across the April Theory (I was doom-scrolling when I should've been getting ready for bed), I was quickly hooked.

What is the April Theory?

The April Theory, in its TikTok-explained glory, says that April isn't just another month during which I pay rent and walk my dog and order too much Uber Eats (and then wonder where my money went).

No, according to this corner of the social media world, April is officially the new month for transformation, fresh starts, and unexpected plot twists. Sorry January — you've been replaced.

As content creator Aliza Kelly put it, it's "the theory that your life starts to change and take off in the month of April".

And, she added, "it's 100 per cent correct".

Where did the April Theory come from?

I know it feels a bit random to just ~decide~ the fourth month of the year is actually the start of everything, but hear me out.

While the Gregorian calendar (which is what we go by, BTW) says January 1 is the start of the new year, the astrological new year commences with the beginning of Aries season, which kicks off at the end of March.

"The new year does not start on January first," said Aliza.

"Maybe, yes, by Gregorian calendar standards it does. But astrologically, it starts with the beginning of Aries season, which is the very end of March.

"It takes some time to ramp and then bam, we're in April," she added — and that's when the effects of the new cycle become apparent.

So, astrologically speaking, April is a more significant marker for new beginnings and positive developments than January ever was.

Interesting!

Watch: The April Theory explained. Post continued below.

According to the endless scroll of TikToks, major life events — breakups, job changes, personal growth moments where you suddenly decide to cut your own fringe at 2am — all mysteriously cluster in April.

It's essentially the universe's way of saying, "Time for a refresh, sweetie!"

How the April Theory works.

If you're the kind of person who blames Mercury retrograde when your toast falls butter-side down (me), you'll love this part. It's a time for setting fresh intentions and embracing change — AKA the perfect time to rehash those New Year's resolutions you gave up two days into the year.

Because thanks to the April Theory, we get a do-over. Which is great news for anyone (me) who's kind of sucked at the first three months of the year.

We love a do-over.

April is bringing literal new year energy, and it's all about courage, adventure, and — most importantly — new beginnings and renewal.

So I'm taking the April Theory as my permission to throw the past three months in the bin, set some fresh goals and intentions, clear out old clutter (from my house and my mind), to make space for new experiences and opportunities.

The cynic in me knows that attributing major life changes to a specific month might be oversimplifying the messy, complicated reality of human existence.

But also? It's kind of nice to believe in something that gives you permission to shed old habits, try new things, and believe transformation is not just possible but seasonally mandated.

So if you've been feeling stuck lately, may I suggest a healthy dose of April Theory optimism? The worst that can happen is you'll end up like me: with a badly cut fringe, but a heart full of hope.

And really, isn't that what life's all about?

Alix Nicholson is Mamamia's Senior Weekend Editor. Follow her on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe to her Substack.

Feature Image: Supplied; Canva.