Why January Is the Best Month to Try a New Way of Working

The new year always brings a fresh start — and often, a desire to do things differently. While December’s holidays are about winding down, January is about starting anew: reorganizing your goals, adjusting your habits, and reimagining how you work. It’s less about chaos and more about purposeful planning — the perfect environment to rethink your schedule, workflow, collaboration style, or even workplace setup.

Whether you’re a remote worker craving structure, an entrepreneur seeking community, or a team leader wanting more effective workflows, January offers a built-in momentum to experiment with new ways of working and discover what truly drives your productivity and satisfaction.

1. Reset Your Work Rhythm — with Structure and Intention

Rather than jumping into work on autopilot, January invites you to rethink when and how you work best. Maybe your energy peaks after breakfast. Maybe you focus better in shorter bursts. This is the month to test those hypotheses.

Why it matters: A finely tuned rhythm can boost productivity, reduce burnout, and make your work feel less like a grind and more like a groove. Seasonal quiet — fewer meetings or external obligations — can actually help you carve out meaningful time for intentional work.

How to make it happen

• Set a flexible core schedule: Define your ideal work windows (e.g., morning deep work, afternoon meetings) and honor them for 1–2 weeks.
• Use a planner or time-block digitally: Tools like Notion, Google Calendar, or Todoist can help you visualize and stick to your new rhythm.
• Weekly reflection: At week’s end, evaluate what’s working — and adjust for week two.

2. Rethink Your Environment — In and Beyond Your Desk

Environment influences focus more than most people realize. Changing where and how you work can spark creativity, elevate mood, and improve execution.

Why it matters: A change of scenery breaks monotony, refreshes your perspective, and can even enhance productivity simply by shifting context. That could mean anything from redesigning your home desk to working elsewhere entirely.

How to make it happen

• Test different setups: Try morning work at your usual desk, then afternoons in a café or shared workspace.
• Take advantage of Enterprise Coworking’s $5 Fridays — a low-commitment way to experiment with coworking and see how a fresh workspace impacts your day.
• Home tweaks count too: Adjust lighting, chair height, or declutter as part of your January reset — even small changes have big effects (for more on optimizing your workspace, check out our previous blog here: Small Changes, Big Effect: Optimizing Your Workspace for Maximum Efficiency).

3. Experiment With Workflow and Collaboration Styles

This is your chance to challenge stale habits and discover how you work best — whether that’s deep focus time, collaborative sessions, or something in between. Many organizations are rethinking traditional 9–5 structures in favor of more flexible models that better support both employee well-being and productivity. In fact, research shows that hybrid work arrangements can be a “win-win-win” — benefiting employers, employees, and overall performance when implemented with intention. Check out this Stanford University article that breaks down the benefits of hybrid work and why flexibility is becoming a cornerstone of modern workplace strategy.

Why it matters: Workstyles evolve. You might thrive with asynchronous communication, sprint work blocks, or designated collaboration hours. Trying different workflows helps you discover what’s actually helping you produce your best work — not just work more. Whether you’re a solopreneur wishing for better focus or a team leader looking to improve how your group collaborates, January’s natural momentum makes it the perfect time to experiment.

How to make it happen

• Pilot a new workflow for 2–4 weeks: Test methods like Pomodoro sessions for deep work, “no meeting” blocks for uninterrupted focus, or shared project boards to streamline collaboration.
• Explore coworking for focused collaboration: Coworking spaces like Enterprise Coworking provide an environment where independent thinkers work alongside others — ideal for testing new collaborative rhythms and boosting accountability.
• Try structured side-by-side time: If a full coworking membership isn’t right for every day, schedule periodic co-working dates or café catch ups with peers at your local favorite coffee shops, libraries, or virtual co-work sessions to see how shared energy affects your flow.
• Measure and iterate: Track how each workflow impacts your focus, output, and satisfaction — then refine accordingly. Small adjustments now can lead to major productivity gains throughout the year.

4. Expand Your Network — Connections That Elevate Your Work

January’s fresh start mindset often means others are open to connecting, sharing, and collaborating. Use that to your advantage.

Why it matters: Networking isn’t just for traditional “professional” events anymore. Meaningful connections can come from shared working days, discussion groups, or community events — especially in coworking environments.

How to make it happen

• Attend events or workshops: Look for local meetups (industry talks, skill exchanges, community boards).
• Leverage coworking networks: Enterprise Coworking hosts community gatherings — join them to meet other creators, freelancers, and founders.
• Virtual networking: Explore Slack communities, LinkedIn groups, or coworking forums to interact beyond your immediate locale.

5. Build Resilience and Growth Habits Early in the Year

January is perfect for planting seeds — not just metaphorically, but with practices that enhance your long-term success.

Why it matters: Instead of chasing “productivity hacks,” building resilient habits ensures you stay effective throughout the year. This includes goal setting, continuous learning, and reflection.

How to make it happen

• Define 3 meaningful goals: Not just “do more,” but outcomes like complete a course, launch a project, or refine your client process.
• Schedule growth time: Block weekly slots for professional development — reading, training, or experimentation.
• Track progress weekly: Use a simple journal, spreadsheet, or habit tracker to monitor your growth. This reinforces the gains you make and shows where to iterate.
• Create accountability: Share your January goals with a peer or coworking colleague — it boosts follow-through.

Make This January Count

The most effective work changes don’t come from sweeping resolutions—they come from thoughtful experimentation.

January gives you the space to test new schedules, workflows, environments, and collaboration styles without pressure. Whether that means adjusting how you plan your week, changing where you work, or finding new ways to connect with others, the goal is simple: start the year with intention instead of inertia.

Because the best way to move forward isn’t locking yourself into one way of working—it’s giving yourself room to discover what works best for you.