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Key Takeaways
- While some feel motivated and energized by the new year, many are experiencing stress, anxiety or mental health concerns as post-holiday reality sets in.
- New Year’s resolutions, routine restarts, seasonal factors and financial pressures can make the start of the year particularly difficult.
- Focusing on your mental health, breaking the year into manageable segments, prioritizing physical activity, and being kind to yourself can help you overcome these challenges.
In the new year you will be back at work and LinkedIn will do what LinkedIn does best. Your feed is full of exclamation points and recycled optimism: “LFG!” “New Year, let’s go!” “Best year yet.”
And look: optimism matters. Excitement can be fuel. Momentum is real. For many people, a new year really feels like a clean slate full of opportunities.
But there’s another side to this moment that rarely makes it into the feed. For every person who feels energized by the flip of the calendar, there is someone else who feels a knot in their stomach. For them, January does not mean renewal; it means the clock starts again. And that can be tough.
Related: Happy New Year’s Eve? Many entrepreneurs think this is the worst night of the year. Here’s why – and what I told my clients to change their minds.
This is why
Firstly, the holidays are often a much-needed break after 11.5 months of non-stop ‘go, go, go’. A few weeks of slower pace, family time, or just not being busy can feel like oxygen. The problem is that a short break is rarely enough to completely reset a burned-out system. And when the holidays are over, what awaits on the other side isn’t relief; it’s another 11.5 months at the same pace. For people living with depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues, that realization can be overwhelming and lead to serious problems.
Second, January is resolution season. In theory, resolutions are about self-improvement. In practice it is often about pressure. ‘Dry January’, new fitness regimes, productivity overhauls – these goals are usually set with good intentions. But resolutions are hard to keep. And if they slip (or end up headfirst in a very wet February), that feeling of failure can quietly take a toll on your mental health.
Third, the holidays disrupt routine – and that disruption is often healthy. Taking some time away from work, loosening schedules and breaking patterns can be a necessary reset. But restarting the routine can be daunting. Returning to the routine forces you to confront the idea that this cycle could repeat itself indefinitely. When the year ahead feels like a long, uninterrupted loop with no clear finish line, motivation can give way to anxiety.
Fourth, there is the weather. In much of the United States, January and February mean colder temperatures and fewer hours of daylight. November and December bring some of the same conditions, but they are softened by holiday lights, gatherings and built-in cheer.
January and February do not offer the same buffer. I’m fortunate to now live in Colorado, where even winter brings abundant sunlight. That wasn’t my experience living in the Midwest, where gray skies, dirty snow, and limited outdoor options were the norm. Seasonal affective disorder is real, and without coping mechanisms it can be dangerous.
Finally there is money. The holidays are a time of spending – and, if we’re honest, often of budgetary irresponsibility. These decisions will appear on credit card statements in January. Bills are higher. Utilities cost more. Groceries, pantries and bars need to be replenished. Basically, all the metaphorical (and literal) checks you wrote in December are being cashed. According to the American Psychological AssociationFinancial pressure is the leading cause of stress among adults. After the holidays, that stress can feel heightened.
This list is not exhaustive. Everyone has their own individualized challenges – some visible, many not. But the point remains: the start of a new year does not provide energy everywhere.
Related: Don’t Set a New Year’s Resolution. There is a better way to achieve your goals in 2026.
So, what’s the takeaway?
First, let’s stop assuming that everyone around us is as excited as we are. For many people, January doesn’t feel like a launch; it feels like you’re lining up for another marathon, knowing there’s another waiting at the finish line. That doesn’t mean you have to stop posting optimistic updates or celebrating new beginnings. It just means that you need to keep in mind that your enthusiasm may not be shared by everyone.
Second, if you’re struggling, prioritize your mental health in simple, practical ways. I’m not a mental health professional, but I do live with depression and have never been particularly excited about the new year. Over time, I have developed coping strategies that work for me:
- I don’t view the new year as a time for total reinvention. Some things work and should stay. Some things need to be adjusted. Wholesale lifestyle overhauls are often just a disappointment.
I prioritize physical activity. There is no real replacement. It’s the only part of my day where I fully concentrate on what I’m doing: not on the work, not on the stress, not on the noise.
I try to be kind to myself. If I need time off, I take it.
I divide the year into smaller segments. I love St. Patrick’s Day, so my first goal is simply to go from January 1st to March 17th. Then it’s from St. Patrick’s Day to Memorial Day, Memorial Day to the 4th of July, and so on. Smaller horizons make the journey manageable.
The most important thing is that I ask for help. Whether it’s reaching out to a professional resource or simply telling someone you trust what’s going on, asking for help can be the hardest – and most important – step.
The new year can bring optimism and opportunity. For many people, yes. But for others, the end of the holidays marks the most difficult part of the calendar. We can all do a little better by recognizing that reality and leading with understanding, patience, and kindness.
Related: 4 Ways to Beat Post-Holiday Blues