Why January is the worst time to “Get organised”

January - ugh.

"New Year, New Me", and "This will be the year I really (insert long standing never achieved goal here)". January is often marketed to seem like the best time to start something new, dedicate yourself to something that's been on your list forever, and more often than not it just feels like a mountain of tasks waiting to be tackled.

Many business owners start the year in this mindset, but quickly find themselves buried under paperwork, emails, and to-do lists. The weight of admin work in January can feel heavier than it should, leading to frustration and burnout. This is why, year on year, when someone asks what my New Year's resolutions are, the answer is often made up on the spot - I never make them. My New Year, New Me, is actually September 1st - having been a teacher for many years, and with a birthday in that first week of September, it just makes more sense to me. And it's never New Me at this point in life either - it's New (insert thing that hasn't been working here), like a dedication to getting my own content out there. And if you don't believe me, scroll back through these blogs and my social pages to see when I started being a whole lot more consistent with it...

Back to my point - January is the worst time to get organised. January admin can feel so overwhelming, not least for the societal pressures of getting your sh*t together because it's a new year. So let's break down the common mistakes business owners make, and practical, simple strategies to reset your systems and regain control.

The start of the year often brings a sense of urgency to get everything in order. Yet, this urgency can make admin feel heavier than necessary. Why?

• Carryover from last year

  Tasks left unfinished in December pile up in January. Unpaid invoices, unfiled documents, and unresolved emails create a backlog that feels impossible to clear.

• Unrealistic expectations

  You feel like you have to fix all your admin issues in the first few weeks. This pressure to “start fresh” and be perfectly organised right away sets an impossible standard.

• Trying to fix everything at once

  Attempting to overhaul every system, inbox, and filing cabinet simultaneously leads to overwhelm. This scattered approach wastes energy and reduces focus.

This is why January admin feels so heavy, but you don’t need to tackle everything at once or aim for perfection.

When January arrives, it's easy to fall into common traps and mindsets that make admin harder, not easier:

• Relying on motivation

  Motivation fluctuates. Waiting for the “right mood” to tackle admin means tasks get delayed or rushed, increasing stress.

• Creating long “get organised” lists

  Huge to-do lists feel productive but often lead to paralysis. When the list is overwhelming, it’s hard to know where to start. Start with the quick wins first - if it takes less than 2 minutes to do, do it now.

• Not addressing the admin you dread

  Avoiding difficult or boring tasks only lets them grow - again, take it from the girl who has just reconciled her personal cashbook going back over 2 years... nine hours later I'm a little bit more enthused about making sure I check all my banks at least once a month to avoid doing that again! Ignoring problem areas like bookkeeping or email management makes January feel like a mountain climb.

These mistakes keep admin stuck in a cycle of overwhelm. By focussing on small, manageable changes, you build momentum. And once you've ticked a few small things off your list, motivation will grow - it's one of those wonderful chicken & the egg situations, completing tasks gives you motivation, but you need motivation to complete tasks and... smart small, but just start. A regular 'just start' for me is throwing Pump It on the speakers whilst I tackle tidying the kitchen - music motivator and once that's done I'm on a roll!

Help getting organised:

Resetting your admin doesn’t require a complete overhaul. Focus on three simple changes that make a big difference:

• One inbox change

  Choose one way to manage your email better. For example, set up folders for urgent, follow-up, and archive. Check email only twice a day instead of constantly.

• One task management system

  Pick one tool or method to track tasks, whether a digital app or a paper planner. Use it consistently to avoid losing track of important admin jobs. I spent a good chunk of hours throwing everything into Notion boards over the Christmas break and I'm actually BUZZING that everything is now in one clear streamlined place again.

• One boundary decision

  Set a clear limit on when and how you handle admin. For example, no admin work after 5 pm or no admin on weekends. Boundaries protect your time and mental energy. Another example from me, because you gotta practice what you preach! - I have just set up a business line and WhatsApp, and all messages are now stored for tomorrow after 5pm (or Monday on a weekend). This is another thing that really excites me, not because I can resist the temptation to check it (still doing that, oops), but because it sends an automated message that says "I'll get back to you during working hours"... and the guilt that one message relives me of is phenomenal.

These small resets create a foundation for smoother admin without adding pressure. Admin doesn't need perfection - it just needs consistency. Many believe admin must be flawless to be effective, but consistency beats perfection every time. Choose admin processes that are simple enough to follow even when you’re busy or tired. For example, a quick daily email check and file instead of inbox zero. Perfect filing or zero unread emails is not realistic. Aim for “good enough” so admin doesn’t become a source of stress.

Daily habits example (yep, again) - my downloads folder was atrocious with the amount of social media > canva downloads > 67 images named (1) that were in there. Now, at the end of every day (minimum), I'm clearing out the downloads and filing things into my (newly organised over Christmas) client folders, or deleting what I don't need. There are 217 items in my deleted folder already this week.. and it's only Wednesday. Consistency builds habits that reduce admin load over time and even small daily wins add up. It's far better to have a small daily win add up, then a small daily 'one day won't hurt' moment add up...

Looking for support?

Trying to do all admin alone often leads to burnout. Support can transform how you manage admin. Things to consider:

Delegation vs DIY systems: Decide which tasks you can delegate to a team member or outsource. Focus your energy on tasks that need your attention.

When to get help: If admin tasks take up too much time or cause stress, it’s time to bring in support. This might be a virtual assistant (hi there!), bookkeeper, or admin service. If you just want systems to put in place yourself, check out our Sort It Hub - named as such because of how often 'Steph Sorts It' gets bandied around when I share these things with people!

Admin relief frees mental space: When someone else handles routine admin, you gain time and mental clarity to focus on growing your business, and doing the things you love most.

Support doesn’t mean losing control. It means freeing yourself to work smarter, do more of the things you love, and spend more time with those people you've probably said 'We should really see each other more often' to over Christmas, and your dog. This dog has been very displeased with the 'back to work' mode to the point of forcing herself into my lap whilst I'm trying to work this week... so I'm off to give her my fullest attention again now ✌🏼

If you've found anything here useful, Nala would love for you to give this a share or forward to someone you think will appreciate it, so she can have more of my attention. And if you'd like more of these nuggets in your inbox, hit the subscribe button below to have them direct each time there's something new!

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