There is wholeheartedly nothing fun about the month after Christmas, with January Blues hitting a lot of us hard. In the run up to Christmas, when Bublé is our daily soundtrack, and there are pretty lights at every window, we have an inherrent reason to feel jolly. Even if we’re spending money like water and eating three times more calories than usual.
It’s a time of year that most of us take some holiday, we spend a bit more time with the kids and family, and if we’re lucky get some really good presents thrown in too!
Then it hits. January, with its glum weather, short days, and of course, back to work for all of us. A good percentage of the country are on a diet, and if you’re anything like me, taking away my chocolate and wine, often make for a grumpier housemate! We’ve got no energy, no enthusiasm, and to be quite honest, many of us would like to hibernate like a hedgehog to be woken up when the sun finally rears its head again and adds a bit of warmth to the world.
For mums though, by the time the first few days of January arrive, we are in sorting mode, getting the kiddos ready for school, making sure the uniform is washed and ready, and organising pickups, dropoffs and multiple clubs.
As I’m back at work myself today, starting to sift through the mounds of emails and work I have to do, I’ve been busy thinking about what I can do to make sure January isn’t as dull as it could be. Here’s what I’ve come up with as some good ways to make sure the January Blues don’t take us down!
1. HOLIDAY
This is the time of year that me and my hubby always book our summer holiday. It keeps me busy at night thumbing through Airbnb to find the perfect location, and gives us all something to look forward to, even if it does feel a lifetime away.
2. SPA DAY
it’s a cliché I know, but most ladies like a good spa day, and at this time of year there are loads of deals going on. I love Nirvana Spa in Wokingham, they do wonderful spa evenings, where you don’t need to spend a fortune, but you can just go and chill, take a book and relax for the evening.
3. DON’T SET NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS
January apparently is the hardest month to stick to anything. Many of us make the mistake of setting up unrealistic challenges (I’ll lose a stone, I’ll go to the gym 4 times a week, I’ll cut out chocolate and alcohol for a month) and unless you are blessed with amazing willpower (which I am absolutely not) then we just add more reasons to feel pants when we don’t succeed. Make any new year goals realistic and easy, and work your way up to your goal bit by bit! Slowly slowly catchy monkey (apparently).
4. GET OUTSIDE
Yep, I can’t believe that I am actually saying this, as I am the least likely person to want to be outside, give me a film, a sofa, and a fire any day of the week. However, we recently aquired our newest member of the family, our beautiful little Cavachon, Arlo. Although he is as keen as me to walk out the front door in to the cold, when we are both outside walking it feels good. And I’m always buzzing when I return. Fresh air is great, and we all lack Vitamin D in the winter (which also adds to the winter blues), so get yourself out there and have a wander.
5. SPRING CLEAN
I know it’s not spring, but a clean house always cheers you up. The last few days at home I have been busy painting walls, cleaning windows and giving the house the fresh look that it needed, and already when I walk up the stairs and see the clear shining windows, it makes my inner Mrs Hinch do a little leap of joy!
6. SPRING CLEAN YOU
Wax, pedicure, manicure, maybe a haircut, or spray tan. It’s easy to have spent the last month getting glammed up for various events, but why let this fall by the wayside. I know I always feel better after my toes are freshly painted and manicured and my hair is freshly done.
7. GET WATCHING
January is a great time for TV, there are so many good things they pop on the TV at this time of year. Hubs and I have just finished watching Bancroft! OMG that was great, even if she is a little deranged. BBC and ITV have some amazing dramas starting shortly, and there are a whole host of fabulous box sets out there to binge on.
8. FINALLY, DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP
We’re so good at putting pressue on ourselves, that sometimes we forget to take time out and just appreciate what we have. There are some crappy things happening in the world at the moment, and it’s easy to forget that in the grand scheme of things, if we’ve put on 3lbs over Christmas, it really doesn’t matter! So with that in mind, off to the biscuit tin I go!
Happy New Year Guys!