Beating the January Blues: Why Organisation, Habits and Vision Boards Can Help!
- Prior Mindset
- Jan 2
- 3 min read
January can feel like a strange emotional hangover. The pressure to feel motivated clashes with low energy, tight finances, darker mornings, and routines that haven’t quite settled yet. Many people describe feeling flat, stuck, or overwhelmed rather than refreshed.
This isn’t a personal failure. It’s a predictable response to change, fatigue, and uncertainty.
Why January feels mentally harder
Research into mood and wellbeing consistently shows that our mental health is closely linked to routine, predictability, and a sense of direction. After the disruption of December, many people feel ungrounded. Motivation drops, decision-making feels harder, and small tasks suddenly feel bigger.
When our nervous system feels overloaded, it looks for safety. Organisation and structure help provide that.
How habits and systems support mental health
Habits aren’t about willpower. They’re about reducing mental load.
Simple, repeatable systems help:
lower anxiety by reducing uncertainty
conserve energy for what matters
support emotional regulation
improve follow-through when motivation is low
Rather than aiming for dramatic change, January works best when the focus is on small, sustainable habits that fit real life.
Why vision boards can be genuinely helpful
Vision boards aren’t just a creative exercise. From a psychological perspective, they help externalise goals and make abstract ideas feel more concrete.
When done thoughtfully, vision boards can:
clarify priorities.
support goal-setting and behaviour change.
reinforce motivation through visual cues.
reduce overwhelm by focusing attention.
They work best when paired with realistic habits and flexible thinking, not pressure or perfection.
If you’d like a practical starting point, you can explore free vision board templates here:
Using templates can reduce decision fatigue and make it easier to get started.
Making January kinder
Helpful questions to ask yourself this month include:
What would feel supportive rather than impressive?
Which small habits would make daily life easier?
What systems could reduce stress instead of adding to it?
Progress in January doesn’t need to be loud. Quiet consistency counts.
When extra support can help
If low mood, anxiety, or lack of motivation feels persistent or starts to affect daily functioning, it may be helpful to seek additional support. Support isn’t about “fixing” yourself. It’s about creating conditions where change feels possible.
If you feel ready to access support, Prior Mindset is here when you are. We offer CBT therapy, DBT therapy, neurodiversity coaching, life coaching, and parenting support for children, young people, adults, and families.
Safeguarding note
Prior Mindset is not a crisis service. If you or your child are feeling unable to keep yourselves safe, please seek immediate help. You can attend your local A&E department or contact support services straight away.
• Samaritans: 116 123 (UK, free, 24/7)
• Childline: 0800 1111 (for children and young people)
If there is immediate danger, please call emergency services.
Find out more and access free resources
You can learn more about Prior Mindset and sign up for our free Members Lounge at www.priormindset.com
Membership is free. You simply enter your email address, set a password, and you’ll have access to evidence-based resources, videos, and supportive literature for children, young people, and families.
Prior Mindset has five-star Google reviews and a growing collection of testimonials, which you are welcome to explore in your own time.
Warm wishes,
Miss Jerri Prior
Cognitive Behavioral Therapist (CBT), Social Worker, and
Founder of Prior Mindset: Putting Your Mental Health First.
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