By Jalen Hines, Mental Health Freelance Writer
After a few weeks free from responsibilities like homework and boring lectures, January comes around—and all of a sudden, winter vacation feels like a bad case of the Sunday scaries. You wonder how you’ll readjust to school life. You worry about how stressed you’ll be, and the advice you receive always feels the same.
They tell you to try harder, to be more disciplined, and to push through. But this “advice” can feel like a trap. It can leave you feeling unmotivated. It can make you feel like the effort you’re already putting in still isn’t enough.
However, it’s not that you don’t care enough or don’t try hard enough. Your executive functions are simply in disarray. After an extended period of leisure and broken routines, January rears its head and demands consistency, emotional regulation, and sustained effort all at once. This kind of executive function overload can make even small actions feel tiring or overwhelming, and it may leave you feeling uncomfortable about seeking the help you deserve.
After all, stigma still exists. Misinformation about ADHD remains widespread, and minority communities continue to experience significant disparities when it comes to mental health care. Factors like these can make it feel like the world is telling you to go figure it out for yourself—and if you don’t, then maybe you just didn’t try hard enough or lacked discipline. However, while some may remain ignorant, mental health awareness is at its peak, and right now, it is better than ever to be honest about what you need.
You need support—from yourself and from others. You need to know that what you’re going through isn’t shameful, and that you deserve help—not as a crutch, but as a support to help you through your journey.
You’re not lazy. You’re overwhelmed—and that deserves support, not shame
With that in mind, what can you do to support yourself through this January transition?
For starters, you can try grounding yourself. It doesn’t matter how small the activity is. You can journal about anything, go for a walk, talk to a loved one—anything that helps you pause, take time for yourself, and remember that you are still in control of your life. You can still create your own structure, and these moments can serve as small reminders of that truth.
Another option is leaning on the support systems you already have. I get it—asking for help can be tough. The burden can feel heavier than it needs to be. Some of you may even feel like you shouldn’t need help at all. Regardless of that mindset, what’s important to remember is that resources exist around you. You can use on-campus services, seek counseling, request class or test accommodations, and access whatever support helps you ease back into things.
Reach out to your loved ones as well. You might feel like you’re asking for too much, but everyone wants to feel heard, seen, and valued—no matter who they are or what they’ve been through. That need is human. And while asking for help can feel scary, what you’re really asking for is support without judgment. There will never be anything wrong with that.
And as one final reminder: you are not a burden. You are no less of a person. You are not asking for too much by seeking basic support. Help yourself, trust others, and remember—you are not the problem. You never were, and you don’t have to face this alone.
If January feels heavier than it “should,” pause and check in with yourself. 💛
Save this post for tough days, share it with someone who needs the reminder, or comment with one small way you’re supporting yourself this week. You don’t have to push through alone.
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