#17 A few thoughts on setting yourself up for January...
- Mel Fox Dhar
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
The next six weeks aren’t for pushing harder.
They’re for removing friction.
If you’re planning a job search or pivot in Q1, here’s the truth I’m seeing across clients right now:
People are tired.
They’re discouraged.
And they’re waiting for January to magically fix the problem.
It won’t.
What will help is taking a few small, strategic steps now - so you don’t start January already behind, overwhelmed, or trying to sprint from zero.
Here’s what I’m recommending to job seekers in my community:
1. Pick a stabiliser - not a productivity overhaul.
Bonus if it sparks joy.
For clients, this often looks like:
A consistent shutdown time
One non-negotiable break each week
No doom-scrolling job boards at 11 p.m.
A short evening walk to look at the lights.
Your job search only moves if you still feel like a functional human.Start here.
2. Close a few open loops
These are the tiny things taking up way more mental space than they deserve:
The follow-up you keep avoiding
One lingering application
A half-fixed résumé you meant to update
You don’t need to clear the decks.
Just tidy what’s distracting - it frees up more energy than you think.
3. Capture your wins from 2025
Future-you will thank you.
Interview prep becomes 10× easier when the examples aren’t buried somewhere in your brain from April.
Project
Problem
What changed because of you
Proof point
That’s it.
Once you’re grounded, move into the practical setup
4. Refresh your LinkedIn
A crisp, current profile does quiet work for you behind the scenes - especially once teams start hiring again in January.
If you want help making it a recruiter-magnet, join my free workshop on 3 December:👉 https://www.melfoxdhar.com/freeworkshop
5. Decide the kind of search you want to run in Q1
Most people drift into their job search and end up scattered, applying to everything… and gaining zero traction.
If you want to run a targeted, intentional search - with clarity on:
Who you are now
What problems you solve
What you want next
And how to show up as the obvious hire
I’ve got three spots left in the January cohort of Ready to Land.
We kick off January 15, and pre-work starts in December so you begin grounded, not scrambling.
👉 Program details: https://www.melfoxdhar.com/ready
If you do nothing else this week:
Pick one stabilising habit
+
Close one open loop.
That’s how you walk into January with a clearer plate, some direction and a whole lot less dread.
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