Motivation after the holidays: how to get back into your workflow
De feestdagen zijn voorbij. De agenda loopt weer vol, de mailbox puilt uit en ergens tussen de oliebollen en goede voornemens is je werkflow even zoekgeraakt. Je bent niet de enige. Januari staat bekend om het moment waarop motivatie even ver te zoeken is.
Goed nieuws: dat is normaal. En nog beter nieuws: je kunt er iets aan doen.
Waarom januari altijd even stroef voelt
Na een periode van rust, gezelligheid en minder structuur moet je brein ineens weer presteren. Beslissingen nemen, plannen maken, vergaderen. Dat kost energie. Verwachten dat je meteen op volle kracht draait, werkt vaak juist averechts.
De oplossing zit niet in harder werken, maar in slimmer opstarten.
Tip 1. Start small and specific
New year goals are often too big. More focus, better meetings, higher productivity. Make it smaller. What is one thing you want to improve this week? One goal, one action. That creates clarity and calm.
Tip 2. Bring structure back into your days
Structure helps enormously after the holidays. Plan fixed moments for focus, meetings and breaks. Do not fill every day with calls. Leave space to actually finish things. That sense of progress is motivating.
Tip 3. Change your environment
Sometimes the issue is not your planning, but your surroundings. The same desk, the same view, the same distractions. Working or meeting in a different environment can instantly refresh your focus.
An external location can make a real difference. Stepping away from the office, entering a new setting with good facilities often leads to sharper conversations, more creativity and renewed energy.
Tip 4. Make plans together
Motivation grows when you look ahead as a team. Use January to align on plans and expectations. Not just what you want to achieve, but how you want to work together. It creates direction and commitment.
Tip 5. Do not skip breaks
At the start of the year it is tempting to go all in. But without proper breaks, your energy drops quickly. Short pauses, good lunches and moments to recharge help you stay focused and productive.
January is not a sprint
January is not about perfection. It is a warm up. A moment to reset, realign and slowly build momentum again.
Want to start the new year with clarity, focus and fresh ideas? Creating the right environment can be the push you need to get moving again.