The first days of January are usually full of energy. New ideas, the desire to change things and the feeling of starting from scratch. But this initial motivation does not last long. After the first week, fatigue, doubts and the feeling of being back at the same point appear.
This does not mean that the project is going badly. It means that the motivation is a temporary impulse, not a solid base on which to build an artistic career.
THE JANUARY SLUMP IS MORE COMMON THAN IT MIGHT SEEM
Many artists go through the same cycle every year: enthusiasm at the beginning of January and frustration a few weeks later. The problem is not losing motivation, but having made it the only driving force of the project.
When energy is low, everything seems more difficult. Ideas cost more, results don't come as quickly and there is a temptation to give up what you were looking forward to.
WHY MOTIVATION CANNOT BE YOUR ONLY SUPPORT
Motivation depends on mood, context and external factors. It is neither stable nor predictable. Building a musical project based on it alone often leads to constant stoppages.
The projects that move forward are not those that always keep their motivation high, but those that know what to do when that motivation disappears.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT, BUT WANT TO MOVE FORWARD
When the initial momentum runs out, it is time to slow down and simplify. This is not the time to push yourself harder, but to keep the movement going, even if it is minimal.
Small, sustained actions, even if they are not brilliant, keep the project alive. Moving slowly is still moving forward.
NORMALISING LOW TIMES AS PART OF THE PROCESS
The narrative of the ever-motivated artist does not hold up in reality. All projects go through moments of doubt, fatigue and blockage.
Accepting these moments as a natural part of the process reduces pressure and avoids giving up when the path becomes less stimulating.
TO BUILD A PROJECT THAT DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE MOOD
A solid musical project does not rely on emotional peaks, but on a minimum structure that allows it to continue even in difficult weeks.
Being clear about what is a priority, what can wait and what small actions can be sustained helps to get through the low points without losing direction.
MOVING FORWARD ALSO MEANS KNOWING HOW TO SLOW DOWN
Moving forward does not always mean intensity. Sometimes it means adjusting expectations, taking better care of oneself and maintaining commitment to the project without forcing it.
Real progress is often less spectacular than it appears from the outside, but much more consistent over the long term.
When the motivation of the new year fades, what remains is the way you decide to move forward. Learning to work also in those moments makes the difference between a project that stays in intention and one that continues to grow.
