You know what no one tells you about January?

Your brain doesn’t magically snap back into “high-performance recruiter” mode just because the calendar ticks over.

You’ve spent a couple of weeks running on slow mornings, long lunches, maybe a few too many pavlovas, prawns and bevvies and suddenly you’re meant to switch gears like nothing happened.

Mate, that’s not how humans work.

Post-holiday blues is a thing.
Feeling foggy is normal.
And dragging your feet on that first day back? Absolutely standard.

The mistake is thinking you should feel 100% switched on from day one.

But if you’re like a lot of corporate Australia this week, chances are, you don’t fee that way. In fact, I’d wager that productivity for most people in that first week back isn’t particularly high.

Personally, I think that’s okay.

Here’s how I see it

January isn’t about going from 0 to 100.
It’s about going from 0 to something.

A walk.
A call.
A cleaned inbox.
One piece of meaningful work that reminds your brain, “Oh yeah… I do actually know how to do this.”

That’s how momentum works – in tiny shifts, not heroic leaps.

For me, the biggest thing I can do in that first week that really sets the tone and helps me gain clarity, is put aside half a day to properly do my planning. (If you want my full guide on this, you can get it HERE).

But chances are, you already have meaningful work to dive into. December didn’t dead stop with everything you were working on ceasing to exist. So start there.

Go back, catch up and start your momentum with the things you already knew you needed to do.

Reframe the story

Most people come back thinking:
“I have to go back to work.”
Which immediately puts you in resistance mode. It’s negative. It’s a drag. No one wants to do something that they have to do.

Try this small reframe instead:
“I get to go back.”

I get to rebuild my pipeline.
I get another crack at my goals.
I get to reset my habits.
I get paid to connect people for a living.

It sounds small, but that tiny language tweak changes how your nervous system shows up. You go from dragging yourself into the day, to stepping back into ownership. You’re in control. You don’t have to do anything – you want to do it because it’s a privilege – a gift you get given.

Start small, win early

The trick to the January reboot isn’t pressure – it’s early wins.

Day one isn’t about smashing KPIs.
It’s about reminding yourself you’re capable.

Pick the smallest task with the highest mental payoff.
Send a message you’ve been putting off.
Tidy your desk.
Book a coffee catch-up.

Do your planning.

Do whatever makes your brain go, “Yep. We’re back.”

Stack enough small wins and suddenly you’re not in holiday mode anymore – you’re in forward momentum.

Give yourself some bloody grace

Being a bit slow out of the gates doesn’t mean that you’re broken or failing or a terrible recruiter.
You’re just a regular human coming off some downtime.

Nobody expects elite athletes to PB straight after an off-season. Professional sportspeople have pre-season training for a reason.

So why do we expect perfect performance of ourselves from day one?

Your first week (or two) in January are the warm-up laps.
Not the Olympics. Not the grand final.

Give yourself some grace. Be kind to yourself.

But here’s what really matters…

By February, the people who eased themselves in with intention, self-awareness and small daily actions are usually absolutely flying.

There’s that old saying – “look after the work and it will look after you” – I would say in this instance YOU are the work. Look after yourself.

You don’t want to set up your year for failure by putting too much pressure on yourself now.

Start small.
Breathe.
Shift your language.
Build your momentum.
And remember – you get to do this.

Welcome back.
Let’s fckn go.

If you haven’t already bought your tickets to LAUNCH: Mindset of a Million $$ Biller Series and are feeling the holiday blues, this half-day is EXACTLY what you need to kick your brain into top-gear. It will get your energy & clarity where it needs to be. Subscribe to my email list HERE to get your exclusive Lone Recruiter audience discount code.