Ask A Psychologist: Why Does January Feel Like It Goes On Forever?

Every year, I hear the same thing: January, colleagues, friends, and family tell me, feels like it lasts for months.

It's cool how the first couple weeks of January have been 6 months long

— microplastics gravy boat (@facetedcarapace) January 18, 2026

I’ve felt it, too, to be honest. Storm Goretti feels like it was months, not weeks, ago. 

New year? That feels like a year-old memory at this point. 

Not so with August to December, a period I always find rushes past. So why do some months seem to fly faster than others?