The Recommendation Room

The most Monday of Mondays.

As I start my day on this chilly January morning, I’m reminded of all the things I put off in 2025. The follow-ups I meant to send. The intentions I promised myself I’d revisit. My 2026 planner stares back at me with quiet contempt as I open my laptop and begin again.

For those of us in corporate life, this day can feel especially heavy. The expectations of a brand-new year arrive all at once, demanding momentum before we’ve fully landed back in our routines.

A few gentle reminders I’ve adopted to ease into this week:

First, be kind to yourself. Easier said than done, I know. You’re just coming off the holidays, whether that was Christmas, New Year’s, or time spent celebrating in your own way. You may feel the weight of it all, literally and figuratively. And that’s okay. The joy, the food, the late nights, the laughter, the stillness. That season is meant to be enjoyed, not punished for once January arrives.

While I love goal-setting and New Year’s resolutions, I don’t believe this week needs to carry that pressure. Think of it as a week of ease. A soft reentry. Fine-tune your goals now and begin implementing them next week. This week is about sleeping enough, drinking water, eating real food, and gently returning to your day-to-day rhythm.

Another thing I swear by is doing less, intentionally. I keep my schedule light. I avoid overbooking. New hobbies can wait. For example, I’m starting a dance class, but not this week. Later in January feels right.

I also focus on organization. I work in account management, so for me that meant sending a simple client touchpoint cadence to reopen conversations. Nothing aggressive. Just reconnecting. Getting my targets and priorities in order for the month ahead feels far more productive than charging headfirst into everything at once.

This week doesn’t need to be conquered. It’s meant to be eased into.

So if today feels heavy, slow, or resistant, you’re not doing it wrong. It’s just January doing what January does.

Be gentle with yourself.

I’ll be back tomorrow with more recommendations.