JANUARY RESET - NOURISH THE SOUL
January can feel like a pressure month, society makes you think you need to rebrand your life with a bunch of goal setting & starting those goals immediately. What if, instead, we looked at January as a refresh? Specifically refreshing & nourishing your soul after what is always a very busy December. We jam packed our life in December with having to gift buy, wrap gifts, decorate for the holidays, attend holiday parties, take down all the decorations. We overindulged in food & treats, most of us definitely drank way more alcohol than we do all year round in December, we spent way too much money & we stayed up way too late most evenings. Our routines are completely off, so why is it we think we should start a brand-new routine come January because we’ve been conditioned that a new year means a new you? Why not get back to the previous routine, awaken your soul again because it’s damn tired. Not to say you can’t add in new things to your routine but make them small easy things. Once you’ve nourished & refreshed your spirit, then start thinking about big goals, manifesting for the new year, creating some new routines. I think you will be more successful obtaining those goals with a rejuvenated spirit then if you tried on a very burnout spirit.
January is also a very depressing month, it’s dark, incredibly cold, we’re nursing a post-holiday hangover & a lot of us fall into seasonal depression. The holidays are over, so now what? It’s like there’s nothing but winter left & that can be a very daunting feeling. That’s why I think baby steps into a new year is best & most importantly being kind to ourselves.
Here’s some of the things I try to do throughout the month, with a few little new things to make my January not so bleh & help refresh my soul.
Get out into nature. I understand, it’s f*cking freezing but if I can get myself outside you can to. Wear double layers, a hat, gloves, scarf and get outside. Getting outside into nature in January isn’t about looking cute, it’s just about staying warm so you can spend a good length of time outdoors. Not only is the movement of your body creating good endorphins, but getting out into nature is so soothing. Download the AllTrails app or go to their website, you can search trails & parks near where you live. Or, search for local wildlife walks or hikes in your area. Some cost money & others are completely free, I’m doing a bird watching walk next month with the city, no charge.
Get journaling. Don’t over complicate journaling, you don’t need to spend hours doing it. Sometimes I spend 15 mins morning & evening journaling, other times I spend hours journaling. Depends on how my capacity is that day. Check out my Journaling Pinterest Board for some great journal prompts to get you started -I’m currently doing the 30 days of Gratitude prompts. I felt I needed the reminder that even though my life is not where I want it to be in this exact moment, there is so much of my present life to still be grateful for. Also, if you don’t want to go through the journaling prompts, this new journal I bought myself is great, prompts already included – FUCK IT JOURNAL
Daily Affirmations are a great way to uplift us & help us feel better about ourselves. You can also use them as motivation for your eventual goals you’ll set, they can aid in manifesting & helps us practice gratitude. I listen to a variety of them daily via The Lavendaire Lifestyle Podcast or sometimes as I check my morning emails for work, I have her YouTube Channel playlist on. A good one to start with is her Positive Affirmations for the New Year 2025
DAILY, yes, DAILY yoga. Do it in the morning. Seriously, it sets a beautiful tone for the rest of your day. Like journaling, it doesn’t need to be a lengthy session, whatever you have time for that morning before you start your day. Some mornings I do 20 minutes other mornings it’s only a 5 minute session. Here are some of my favourites I alternate through - Meg’s Morning Yoga Playlist.
Romantize your life, and that looks different for all of us. For me, it’s a very warm extended Epsom salt or bubble bath while I listen to a meditation, lighting candles or incense while working, reading or journaling. I start every day with my kiddo listening to classic piano or some soft jazz with one of those snowy cabin YouTube backgrounds (I change our backgrounds dependent on the season), reading bits of poetry when I have a chance, pulling Tarot cards, doing a face mask OR a foot mask. Them footies need extra loving in the winter. Haha. What is it for you? In what small ways do you romanticize your life?
Mediate. It’s a great way to practice being present & where “your feet are”. Like my yoga, I alternate with how I’m feeling that day on which meditation I listen to. If you can scroll your phone for literal hours, you certainly can take 10 minutes of your day to STOP. Be present. Breath. Connect with yourself. Connect with the Universe. There are both guided mediations & just music with nature sounds included in my playlist - Meg’s Meditation Playlist.
Try a new recipe, an easy one - currently I’m trying a variety of chia pudding recipes, loving this Coconut Mango one at the moment. Next week it’s a Chai Latter Chia Pudding I’m going to try!
I hope some of these small little ways to brighten a dark January day help your spirit feel more refreshed & get started on the right foot for 2025.