Why Mid January Is The Hardest For Your Goals

If your goals already feel harder to stay connected to, you’re not imagining it... and you’re definitely not alone.

There’s a reason why mid January is when many people quietly disengage from their New Year intentions.

It has less to do with discipline and far more to do with how the brain actually works.

At the beginning of the year, novelty kicks in. New plans, fresh pages, big energy. Your brain releases dopamine simply because something feels new and hopeful.

But.... by the second or third week of January, that novelty wears off. Life resumes, and the brain stops rewarding intention alone and starts asking for structure.

This is where most people think something has gone wrong with them.

It hasn’t.

Research shows that consistency isn’t sustained by motivation.

Nope!

Consistency is sustained by reducing decision fatigue and reinforcing identity. When goals live only in our heads, we’re asking our brains to work overtime.

But when goals are supported by systems, prompts, and reflection, follow-through becomes far more natural.

So, the issue isn’t that you don’t want your goals badly enough. It’s that willpower was never meant to carry the whole load.

This is exactly why I believe planning isn’t a one-time event. It’s a relationship you maintain with your vision.

That's also why I'm so proud of the Dream Life Designer Planner. It's designed to help you externalize your goals so your brain doesn’t have to hold everything.

It brings you back to why you started, not just what you need to do. And it creates space to recalibrate without guilt when real life inevitably shows up.

And because staying consistent is rarely a solo journey, there’s continued accountability throughout the year inside my Dream Life Designer Planner Community. It comes FREE with planner purchase, so you’re supported long after the excitement of January fades. 

This moment right now isn’t a sign you’re falling behind.

It’s actually the moment when aligned structure makes the biggest difference.

And if you want support staying consistent with your goals, not just this month, but throughout the year—start here.

 Get your Dream Life Designer Planner and ongoing accountability here.

You don’t need more pressure. You just need support that works with how you’re wired.