Reset & Refocus – Tips for Finding Balance When the New Year Rush Wears Off

The beginning of January always feels like a sprint. Everywhere you look, people are talking about resolutions, fresh starts, and big goals. I admit—I get caught up in it too. There’s a certain energy in the air that makes me want to reorganize everything, paint nonstop, and say yes to every new project.

But by the third week of January, reality usually sets in. The energy slows. The lists feel overwhelming. The motivation starts to flicker. That’s when I have to pause, reset, and remind myself that growth is a marathon, not a sprint.

Here are a few ways I’ve been finding balance this month—maybe they’ll help you too.

1. Give Yourself Permission to Slow Down

The pressure to keep up the “new year momentum” can be exhausting. I’ve learned that slowing down isn’t failure—it’s fuel. Sometimes the best thing I can do for my art (and my sanity) is to sit with a cup of coffee, light a candle, and do nothing for a little while. Stillness is what makes the creative sparks come back.

2. Revisit, Don’t Rewrite, Your Goals

It’s tempting to scrap resolutions when they feel too heavy, but often they just need tweaking. I’ll look back at what I set out to do, then ask: Does this still feel right? Can I take smaller steps? For me, breaking down a big painting series into little milestones makes the process feel less like a mountain and more like a path.

3. Find Inspiration in the Ordinary

When I feel drained, I try to notice beauty in everyday moments—shadows on the wall, the rhythm of rain, even the way paint water swirls in a jar. Inspiration doesn’t always come in big lightning bolts; sometimes it hides in the quiet details of daily life.

4. Create Space for Joy

Not everything has to be about productivity. I remind myself to paint something just for fun, with no pressure to sell or exhibit it. That freedom is what brought me to art in the first place, and it keeps the love of creating alive.

5. Protect Your Energy

Balance also means saying no. I used to feel guilty for turning down opportunities, but I’ve realized that protecting my energy is what allows me to show up fully for the things that matter most—whether that’s my art, my family, or just my own well-being.

Final Thought

January doesn’t have to be about racing to achieve everything at once. It can be about finding rhythm, listening inward, and letting yourself reset when the world tells you to keep rushing.

I’m reminding myself that it’s okay to move at my own pace—and maybe you need that reminder too.

What do you do when the “new year rush” wears off? I’d love to hear how you reset and refocus.