Let’s be honest—getting back into your routine after the holidays can feel impossible. The momentum you had at the end of the year? It almost feels like a distant memory. You had goals, ambition, drive… and now you’re just trying to convince yourself to open your laptop without sighing dramatically.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

The Holiday Pause.

The holidays are a time to reconnect with family, catch up with friends, and maybe (if you’re lucky) truly unplug for a while. For the first time in a long time, I gave myself that mental break. No work. No school. Just stillness.

And it felt amazing!

There was a calm I hadn’t felt in months. No deadlines, no notifications, no to-do lists haunting me from the corner of my screen. Just quiet. Peace. Space to breathe.

Back to Reality.

And suddenly I was right back in the thick of it, emails, assignments, Zoom calls, essays. It all came crashing back faster than I expected. I’ve done this before, but this time it felt harder. I had just tasted what it was like to not be overwhelmed, and I wasn’t ready to let that go.

The truth is, we don’t always realize how much we’re carrying until we finally set it down. That moment of peace made me realize how heavy everything had been—and how much I want that kind of peace more often.

Chasing the Quiet.

Now, I’m not saying I’m giving up school or work (even if the idea sounds tempting on rough days). But I’ve started thinking differently about why I do what I do.

Earn those peaceful moments. Be able to say “yes” to friends on the weekend instead of “sorry, I have a deadline.” Enjoy time instead of constantly racing against it.

That simple shift in perspective can bring back motivation.

Feeling Lost?

If you’re feeling drained or unmotivated right now, I get it. The post-holiday fog is real. Especially if you live somewhere cold and gray during the long winter months. Everything can feel slower, heavier, more difficult.

But your goals are still there. They’re waiting for you to pick them back up. You don’t have to rush. You just have to start again.

One Step Closer.

Motivation doesn’t always come roaring back. Sometimes it returns in a whisper. In a quiet thought, like, I want that peace again. When you least expect it. And that’s enough to begin.

So whether you’re easing back into work, school, or personal goals, give yourself grace. Rest isn’t wasted time, it’s what refuels you for the journey ahead.

Keep going. You’re doing better than you think.