0
0
January isn’t a month; it’s a season of endurance.
I don’t know who decided January should have 31 days and bad weather and post-holiday burnout and tight budgets andschool emails that sound like threats—but I’d like to talk.
As a mom, January hits different.
The holidays are over, the magic is gone, the decorations are mocking you from a box in the garage, and suddenly everyone expects you to be refreshed, organized, motivated, and thriving.
Be serious, lmao.
Why January Feels So Long (Especially for Moms)
Let’s name the things, because pretending we’re fine is exhausting.
- The kids are back in school… but somehow home more
- Everyone is sick, again, with a remix strain
- The house feels darker, colder, louder
- The credit card bill shows up with receipts
- You’re supposed to be “setting goals” while still recovering from December
And the mental load? Oh, she’s clocked in early.
January is when the invisible work multiplies:
- New routines
- New expectations
- New guilt about everything you didn’t magically fix on January 1st
The Lie We’re Told About January
We’re told January is for:
- Reinvention
- Productivity
- Discipline
- “Getting back on track”
But what if January is actually for restoring capacity? What if the goal isn’t transformation—but stabilization?
What Actually Helps Me Get Through January
Not a planner. Not a miracle morning. Not a 30-day challenge.
Here’s what’s keeping me afloat:
- Lowering my standards (yes, on purpose)
- Cooking the same meals on repeat
- Saying no without an explanation
- Letting the house look lived in
- Choosing warmth over productivity
I don’t need to be better this month; I need to be gentler.
If January Is Hard for You, You’re Not Behind
You’re not failing because you’re tired. You’re not unmotivated because you’re human. You’re not doing motherhood wrong because this month feels endless. January asks a lot—and gives very little in return.
So if all you do this month is:
- Get everyone fed
- Keep showing up
- Take care of yourself in quiet, unremarkable ways
That counts. That matters. And it’s more than enough.
Tell me—what makes January feel hardest for you?
