The January Sprint: 5 Ways to Own the Last Stretch
By: Neil Patrick G. Nepomuceno
January may feel like a long run, but you’re nearly at the finish line!
Here are 5 ways to maximize the final stretch of the month and start the year strong.
End each day with a reward
In the final week of January, Pin five small, rewards to your calendar for the last five days (e.g., “Gourmet coffee Tuesday,” “New podcast episode Friday”). Doing this can trick your brain into seeing the finish line not as “more work,” but as a series of victory laps. This will make the January stretch feel like a rewarding climb.
TIPS: If you’re having trouble finding what type of reward you would like, keep in mind that different personality types “feel” rewarded in different ways:
The Sensor – You are grounded in the present and highly tuned into your environment. You feel most recharged when you engage your five senses and step away from the digital glow.
Rewarding Activity: A 15-minute walk without your phone, a high-quality snack, or using that “fancy” candle you’ve been saving.
The Learner – You are fueled by curiosity and the “aha!” moment. For you, a reward isn’t about sitting still; it’s about the satisfaction of feeding your brain something new and interesting.
Rewarding Activity: Saving a deep-dive YouTube video, a long-form article, or a new podcast episode specifically for your “off” hours.
The Socialite – You draw your energy from others. You feel most accomplished when your hard work is recognized or when you can share a moment of levity with your “tribe.”
Rewarding Activity: A quick “catch-up” call with a friend or sharing a “win of the day” in a group chat to get that communal high-five.
Sweep your Calendar for unfinished tasks
Now is the time to tackle that one task from the first week of the month that has been quietly gathering dust. Clearing the “sediment” at the bottom of your to-do list provides a massive psychological boost. It’s the digital equivalent of finally cleaning behind the fridge—satisfying and necessary.
TIPS: Aside from recollecting your thoughts and meeting notes, you may also open your email or notes app and scroll to the bottom of your “To-Do” or “Flagged” list and tackle the oldest three items first and work your way up to the most recent.
“The 20-Minute Dash”
Since January seems to move at a snail’s pace, you need to break the physics of the workday. Once you swept your calendar for unfinished tasks, it is crucial to practice accountability by working with a colleague or setting aside 20 minutes for an initial focus period for that task alone.
TIPS: For remote workers, chat or call a colleague or friend for a “Dash.” Jump on a quick muted video call for 20 minutes of silent, intense focus on one specific task.
This is “Body Doubling.” Having someone else in the “room” with you creates a gentle sense of accountability that turns a slow afternoon into a high-speed sprint.
Prioritize Realistic Goals over moving targets
By late January, we’re often hauling around “legacy tasks”—ideas we had on New Year’s Day that no longer fit our current reality. Productivity is about focus, not just volume. Dropping the baggage of moving targets frees up the mental energy needed to crush your actual deadlines.
TIPS: Create a “Backlog List.” Explicitly write down three tasks that you are moving to make room for your top deliverables.
TIPS: Divide your final 48 hours of the month into strict “thematic blocks.” Spend one hour doing nothing but documentation, the next doing nothing but outbound communication, and so on. Doing this gives you a “rhythm” that allows you to process a higher volume of work in less time, helping you clear the January backlog without feeling like you’re spinning your wheels.
As the month of January draws to a close, Think of the remaining days of January as your “Pre-Season.” Everything you finish now is a gift you’re giving to your future self in February and beyond!
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