January blues for musicians – when the new year overwhelms you

Everyone is taking off.
New projects. Big goals. Shiny posts on social media.

And you? You're caught between fatigue, inner pressure, and the feeling that you're falling behind again. January can be brutal—especially for musicians who work independently, have no clear structure, and stumble into the new year with a creative mind.

The new year often doesn't start with a bang. Instead, it starts with doubts.

Why you don't feel wrong

You are not undisciplined. Not unambitious. And not too slow. You are a musician. Independent. Creative. You made it through 2025, perhaps accomplishing many things for the first time.

But our system never celebrates the end. It only celebrates the beginning.
January is a firework display of productivity, but no one asks:
What did you actually need in December?
What does your body need after 30 gigs and 100 reels?
What does your voice need after three months of promotion?

How to start the year gently and strategically

1. Find an emotional end to the year
Before you start planning your goals, ask yourself: What can you let go of in 2025?
Maybe a booking agent who always made you feel small.
Maybe constantly comparing yourself to other musicians on Instagram.
Write it down. And then: symbolically take a step away from it.

2. Set yourself a focus for February
You don't have to plan the whole year right away.
Choose a focus for February: Booking? Studio work? Storytelling on social media?
A month is manageable. And you can change your mind later.

3. Create your "Success was when..." sentence
Not: "I want 1,000 new followers."
But rather: "I found the courage to show myself regularly, even when I wasn't perfect."
Define success according to what makes you grow as a musician.

You don't have to run to get there

January is not a competition.
It is an opportunity to reorient yourself at your own pace.
As a musician with creative independence, you are free to start the year differently than others.

Because your calendar doesn't follow the norm.
Because your energy isn't a linear curve.
Because you're doing something many would never dare to do: building your own career, your way.

You can start slowly. But be honest. And that is often the bravest step of all.

Kind regards