The first of the months are not always the easiest.

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After the intensity of the holidays, entering a time with fewer events can feel uneasy at first. Your body and mind might still be used to the abundance of festivities and social events, which can make the start of the year feel a bit “empty”. Short, cold days might leave you with lower energy and motivation. If you’re a professional in the music scene, you might also be dealing with less work, less structure, and less financial security. All of these factors can affect how you feel. If any of this feels familiar, your experience is completely valid. 

At the same time, focusing on what the winter doesn’t bring will most likely not leave you feeling good. This article offers some tools to help you reframe this period and take agency over how you spend your time. 

When something feels “empty”, it also means there is space. Space to fill with something that feels meaningful, or something that brings you joy. This is where your agency comes in: an opportunity to shift from frustration over what you can’t control, to intentional choices about what you can.

Winter has never been my favourite time of year. After Christmas, I feel mentally and physically ready for spring. And even though the seasons have always worked in the same way, it still comes as a surprise that after the holidays, winter has only just started. What helps my winters feel lighter is doing the things I actually love, but usually don’t have time for during other months. 

This sounds simple, and in some ways, it is. But it also requires an honest moment of reflection on what you really value and need, as well as the ability to step away from automatic habits in moments when we feel low, tired, or unmotivated. And that’s not always easy. 

In winter, for example, I find it harder to disconnect from work. When it’s dark outside, I feel less motivated for an evening walk. I’m more likely to get stuck indoors with my busy mind. Recently, however, I picked up painting again. It’s a joyful activity that helps me to let go of the day and recharge. On weekends with fewer events, I still value and need connection. I try to bring these moments into my weekend by meeting friends for a coffee or planning a longer videocall with friends who I haven’t spoken to in a while. 

In summer, we often spend more time outdoors, being more active and social. That can make it easier to unplug, have fun, and feel connected. But we still need those moments in winter. If you haven’t yet found how to bring these moments into your winter months, that’s okay. What might help is asking yourself, “What does my current feeling tell me about what I really need?” Allow yourself to experiment with different activities and reflect on how they make you feel.

Another small reminder: the void you might feel these months could actually nourish your creativity. Remember how being bored as a child made you invent new games or toys? If you allow yourself to become a bit more comfortable with the feeling of boredom, your mind might eventually give you something back.

The challenge, though, is to stay away from mind-numbing activities such as binge-watching Netflix or doom-scrolling. These might feel good and relaxing in the moment, but often block creativity and leave you feeling exhausted afterwards. The feeling afterwards is similar to a “sugar crash” for your mental energy and motivation.

Nowadays, we’re so used to instant reward that we sometimes forget how to move through the process of finding it. Sometimes, needing to make an effort is actually part of the joy, and can leave you feeling much more satisfied. If this still feels difficult, you’re not alone. Especially when we’re tired or low in motivation, it’s much easier to fall back on quick entertainment than to start something new. In those moments, our autopilot easily takes over.

In sum, it can take some time to adjust to the different pace of winter. Feeling lower in motivation or energy is common during this time of the year. Especially in the music scene, factors such as fewer events and financial stability could affect your mental wellbeing. While you often can’t directly change these external factors, the way you show up for yourself these months can make a difference.

Small moments of reflection can help to change automatic tendencies around boredom or low motivation. They can also help to see where you have agency to make the winter months feel more fun and meaningful. Below, I’ve shared some reflections questions I’ve recently asked myself. If you recognise yourself in this article, maybe they’ll be helpful for you too. 

Reflection questions for this winter

  • What do I usually do in my downtime, and how does that actually make me feel?

  • If I could make this month meaningful or joyful, what three words would describe the meaning I’d like to give it?

  • What actions or activities align with those three words? How can I gently add them to my routine in the coming days?

  • What activities or hobbies do I enjoy, but haven’t had time for in a while?

  • Is there something I’d like to dive deeper into this month (for example: a new skill, a   book, an album)?
  • What do boredom, low energy or low motivation tell me about what I need or want?

  • What are the signs that I feel bored, low in energy or unmotivated?

  • How do I usually respond or act in these moments?

  • Does that response help me feel good?

  • If not, what could help me pause and reconnect with the meaning and activities I’ve named above?

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