The January Fog: How to Find Career Direction Without a Resolution
The Momentum Files #65
Clarity first. Decisions second.
January has a strange reputation.
It’s supposed to feel inspiring. Motivating. Clear.
A fresh page. A clean start. A powerful reset.
But for a lot of high-performing professionals, January feels… none of those things.
It feels heavy.
Cluttered.
Uncertain.
A little self-critical.
If you’re feeling uncertain about your career in January, you’re not alone.
And somehow, we’re expected to turn that fog into a resolution - a clear goal with a clean plan - when what we actually need is space to think.
If you’ve been feeling behind, fuzzy, unmotivated, or even slightly irritated by “New Year, New You” messaging, I want you to hear this clearly:
You’re not doing January wrong.
You’re simply experiencing what January often is - a transition month, not a transformation month.
And you don’t need a resolution.
You need direction.
The January Fog Is Real (And It Has Nothing to Do with Willpower)
Let’s name what’s true.
January brings pressure.
Even if nothing dramatic happened in your work or life, the calendar shift can create a loud internal question:
“What am I doing with my career?”
And that question can bring up a lot at once:
mental clutter
decision fatigue
comparison
regret about what didn’t happen last year
pressure to prove you’re “moving forward”
fear of choosing the wrong thing
So instead of feeling energized, you feel overloaded.
Instead of feeling inspired, you feel… foggy.
That fog is not a lack of ambition.
It’s what happens when your brain tries to sort too many signals at once:
what you want
what you’re tired of
what you’re capable of
what your life actually needs right now
what you think you “should” want
what you’re afraid might be true
That’s not a motivation problem.
That’s a career clarity problem.
If you’re in an uncertain season, you may find this helpful: How to Stay Confident in Uncertain Career Seasons.
What the January fog actually sounds like
Here’s what the January fog often sounds like in real coaching conversations:
“I’m bored in my job. I’m well respected, but it’s not fulfilling.
I have a strong team that works well. Do I stay here and be bored and just tough it out for the next two years, or do I make a change?”
This isn’t a motivation problem.
It’s a direction problem.
Because boredom is rarely about laziness. It’s often a signal of:
🔹 outgrowing a role
🔹 being under-challenged
🔹 wanting meaning, impact, or growth again
🔹 craving change, but not wanting to blow up stability
“I stepped into a more senior role recently. I enjoy parts of the work, but the culture and industry don’t feel like a fit.
The hours are long, the pace is constant, and I can feel the misalignment catching up with me. I’m succeeding, but I’m exhausted. And I’m quietly asking myself, is it time to explore something different?”
This is one of the hardest versions of the fog.
You’re succeeding, yet you’re depleted.
You’re capable, yet you’re running on fumes.
And the work keeps demanding more, even as your alignment keeps slipping.
And the question isn’t whether change is needed.
It’s how to create breathing room and clarity when your current role is consuming all of you.
Before any big decision gets made, this is the moment to slow down and rebuild direction, because clarity comes first - decisions come second.
“The new AI automation being incorporated into my team is going to change the way I work dramatically.
I’m the highest producer on the team, but these changes mean I’ll lose autonomy, I’ll have to be tied to my desk 8–5, and I won’t get to choose my work the same way. I’m not happy that this is designed for lower performers - but it negatively impacts top performers like me. Do I stay and work less, or do I find something different?”
This is a perfect example of why January can feel mentally cluttered.
Because it’s not just about the work. It’s about:
🔹 autonomy
🔹 identity
🔹 lifestyle
🔹 fairness
🔹 the future of how work is structured
It’s a career direction question - not a New Year’s resolution question.
Notice what all of these have in common:
They’re not asking for reinvention.
They’re asking for direction.
Because most of the time, this isn’t just about finding another job. It’s about building the right direction. Here’s a deeper read if you want it: This is so much bigger than a job search.
Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work for Career Direction
Most New Year’s advice assumes the same thing:
If you decide clearly enough, you’ll follow through.
But high-performing professionals aren’t struggling because they don’t know how to follow through.
They’re struggling because they’re trying to force a decision without enough clarity.
Resolutions work best when:
the path is obvious
the goal is specific
you have capacity
your life isn’t already full
But for most professionals I work with, January looks like:
full calendars
nonstop obligations
family logistics
performance pressure
ongoing leadership demands
uncertainty in the market or industry
quiet burnout that no one sees
So when you add a resolution on top of that, it doesn’t feel empowering.
It feels like another job.
Another way to fail.
Another reminder that you “should be doing more.”
That’s why I don’t love resolutions. They’re often rooted in pressure, not truth.
How to Find Career Direction Without Forcing a Big Decision
Here’s the shift:
A resolution asks you to declare something big.
Direction asks you to choose something true.
And direction doesn’t require certainty.
Career direction is simply:
a north star
a theme
a grounded focus
a set of choices that align with what matters now
Clarity rarely arrives all at once.
It builds through small moments of recognition.
Career direction comes from noticing what:
🔹 energizes you
🔹 drains you
🔹 you want more of
🔹 you’re no longer willing to tolerate
🔹 matters in this season of life
🔹 you want your career to support
You don’t need a five-year plan.
You need the next right move.
Here’s a simple framework that helps:
Direction =
Awareness: what feels out of sync
Values: what matters most right now
Focus: what you want more of this year
Action: one next step aligned with that focus
You’re not trying to map everything.
You’re simply creating your next true direction.
The Most Common January Trap: Trying to Think Your Way Out of Fog
When professionals feel unclear, they often respond in one of two ways:
1) They overthink
They research endlessly. Scroll job boards. Update the resume. Rewrite LinkedIn. Consider ten options at once.
It feels productive - but it’s really a form of anxiety management.
2) They freeze
They do nothing because it feels risky to make a wrong choice.
And then the fog gets heavier.
Because clarity does not come from pressure.
It comes from engagement.
If you want direction, you can’t just think harder.
You need a better process.
If you’re in the “what do I do next?” spiral right now, this post may help: What Do I Do Next? The Question That Changed My Life.
A Better January Strategy: Choose a Word, Not a Resolution
This is why I love the Word of the Year practice.
I do this every year - and I’ve been doing it for more than six years now.
My word for 2026 is Thrive.
And every single year, I’m amazed by how my word shows up again and again - not just in my career, but in my leadership, my choices, my energy, and the boundaries I’m willing (or not willing) to hold. It becomes a steady filter I can return to when things get noisy or unclear.
That’s the difference between intention and pressure.
Resolutions are fine, but they often come from our thoughts - and they’re usually motivated by a lot of “shoulds.”
A word, on the other hand, holds meaning. It creates direction. It gives you something your whole system can align with.
It’s not fluffy. And it’s not about forcing positivity.
It’s strategic.
A word gives you a filter.
A focus.
A lens.
It becomes a way to ask:
What does this word ask of me?
What does it mean in how I lead?
What does it change in how I work?
What does it require me to stop doing?
What does it invite me to start?
Examples:
Alignment (stop proving, start choosing)
Visibility (stop hiding, start being seen)
Courage (stop waiting, start moving)
Sustainability (stop over functioning, start recalibrating)
Discernment (stop rushing, start choosing well)
A Word of the Year does something resolutions rarely do:
It builds direction without pressure.
And it still creates momentum.
If you’d like support choosing yours, the Word of the Year exercise is available inside my Career Vault.
Career Direction Comes From Two Things: Awareness + Choices
If you’re still in the January fog, here are two simple questions to start with:
Question 1: What’s no longer working the way it used to?
Not what is broken.
Not what you hate.
Just:
What feels out of sync?
Question 2: What do you want more of this year?
Not a job title.
Not an outcome.
A quality.
A word.
A feeling.
A direction.
Because here’s the truth:
You can’t build the career you want by only reacting to what you’re tired of.
A Practical Tool: The Wheel of Life
If your fog isn’t just career-related, you’re not alone.
Sometimes career fog is actually a life-level fog.
That’s why the Wheel of Life is one of my favorite tools - it surfaces where energy is leaking.
When you look at your life as a whole (health, relationships, time, finances, meaning, career), you can often see why:
everything feels heavy
motivation is low
you’re tired even after rest
decisions feel overwhelming
If you want to do this exercise, it’s also available in my Career Vault.
What Direction Looks Like in Real Life
Direction might look like:
starting conversations instead of applying online
rebuilding confidence before chasing the next title
choosing one skill to strengthen this quarter
clarifying what kind of leadership environment you thrive in
adjusting boundaries so your life has space again
exploring roles that fit your strengths and your lifestyle
Notice how none of those require a dramatic reinvention.
They require intention.
That is what real momentum looks like.
Final Thought
If January feels foggy, don’t interpret that as failure.
It’s often a sign that you’re in transition - internally, professionally, or both.
You don’t need a resolution.
You need direction.
And direction doesn’t require certainty.
It requires truth.
And a next right step.
FAQ: Career Direction, Career Clarity, and Feeling Stuck at Work
Why do I feel stuck at work in January?
Feeling stuck at work in January is incredibly common. The New Year naturally triggers reflection, comparison, and pressure to set career goals quickly. That creates decision fatigue and mental clutter, even for high performers. It’s not a motivation issue - it’s usually a career clarity issue.
How do I find career direction when I feel unsure?
Career direction comes from choosing a next focus, not solving everything at once. Start by naming what feels out of sync and what you want more of (growth, alignment, autonomy, impact). Even small clarity creates movement. You don’t need a perfect plan - you need a true direction.
What’s the difference between career goals and career direction?
Career goals are outcomes (a title, salary, or role change). Career direction serves as a compass that guides decisions along the way. When your direction is clear, setting career goals becomes easier - and you’re less likely to chase goals that don’t actually fit.
Are New Year’s resolutions helpful for career planning?
Not always. Many career resolutions are created from pressure rather than clarity. For high-achieving professionals, resolutions can increase urgency without improving career direction. A better approach is career planning that starts with reflection, values, and focus - then builds goals from there.
What do I do if I don’t know what career I want next?
If you don’t know what career you want next, start by narrowing what you want more of, not by forcing a decision. Clarity often comes through conversation, exploration, and small experiments. Career clarity is built over time, not figured out in one sitting.
If You’re Ready for More Than Reflection…
If this post resonated and you’re ready for more clarity, structure, or momentum, here are three ways I can support you - depending on what you need right now.
1. Career Club
If what you’re missing is consistency, support, and a true sounding board, Career Club is a strategic community for professionals in transition and growth.
We focus on clarity, mindset, accountability, and real forward motion - without urgency or overwhelm. We meet weekly, every Thursday at 4:00 PM (PST) / 7:00 PM (EST).
Learn more about Career Club
2. Executive Blueprint Call
If you want clarity fast, the Executive Blueprint Call is a 30-minute targeted consult designed to cut through fog and decision fatigue.
You’ll receive a 1-page Executive Momentum Blueprint within 24 hours, plus a 7-day check-in to support follow-through.
Book your Blueprint Call
3. Career Vault
If you’re not ready for coaching support yet, but you want something tangible to work with, the Career Vault is a growing library of practical tools designed to help you build career direction without pressure.
You can explore it here: The Career Clarity Vault
Two of my most downloaded tools for rebuilding clarity and confidence are here:
A note for women entrepreneurs
If you’re a woman entrepreneur craving community, support, and a true sounding board, I’ll be sharing more soon about a Women Empowering Women Reunion happening in February. It will be a space for connection, coaching-style insight, and grounded masterminding. More soon.