Ideas to make January less awful

[cosytoaster]

I hate January - it's dreary and boring, the weather's crap, I've invariably run out of money and it seems to drag on forever. So, in anticipation of the forthcoming misery, I'm planning ahead and am hoping for ideas to make it more bearable. Suggestions need to be cheap (definitely can't afford to go away). For context I'm a single parent (older teens so no childcare issues) and work full time. All ideas welcome!

Have you heard of this sad lamps? I forget what sad stands for, seasonal something disorder. Anyway, they are a very bright lamps that are meant to help with depression during the winter. I have one due to being visually impaired and needing a bright light.

I don't mind January on sunny days. It's the cold and rain that bothers me. It is the month that is leading up to lunar new year though, so I enjoy it.

Do you have friends nearby? Or some relatives you like? I find a planned evening of board games and wine is a great way to cheer up in winter.

Bloodybridget I don’t think so. I make lots of crafty things. Have done it for a job and worked for crafting magazines for years. But this place is not very nice to people who make handmade stuff. Having seen the Facebook tat threads not a chance would I post it here.

TheDuchessofDukeStreet

Me too but I found it

it's Maeve Haran and it's froth on the cappuccino

Yoga With Adriene 30 days of yoga - she does them every January, and they're just lovely. No previous experience of yoga required, and many are very short (15 mins or so). I think she's done them for the last 3 or 4 years so you can look back on previous years' to get an idea (off the top of my head, they've been called '30 days of yoga' 'Yoga camp' and 'Revolution', but I could well be wrong). They start off very gentle and build up very slowly.

I always book a weekend away with a physical challenge for the first weekend back at work. So this year, for example, I did a duathlon in Northumberland, last year I cycled the transpennine way etc etc. I feel like it kicks the year off on the right note and give me something to focus on.

I can not recommend the yoga thing and the run every day thing enough.

2017 was a bit of a bruiser for me and I swore I’d have a better 2018. Did that run every day thing: like a minute run, three mins walk, minute run, three mins walk, home for crisps, and it sorted my head right out.

However as hippy as this sounds it’s a mindset thing. January to me marks new beginnings, an exciting year ahead, a pause after the madness of Christmas to restock and make plans for the end of winter/spring and to start afresh.

Just try to avoid bollocks like diets, “new year new you” and going teetotal. You don’t need that added pressure.

Keep January fun I say! Xxxx

@Dontgiveamonkeys1350 I'm really sorry that's been your experience on MN. My home-made dolls house items and refurbishments are very amateurish, but I am still pleased with them. Hope you enjoy the project, anyway.

Affected

Or affected

Ive

I second the craft idea - so satisfying!

How about a "favourites" swap with a friend? You each lend the other three DVDs, books or recipes that you think the other may like. It feels like you are getting new things but costs nothing.

Do you have any interest in volunteering? The feeling of having a group of people or cause that you care about can really lift your mood.

I did the Run Every Day January organised by Mind and have signed up again for 2019. It did push me out despite some really grotty weather. Lots of little runs felt more attainable than my usual 2/3 longer runs and I got faster through the month.

Some great ideas here, thanks for starting this thread OP! Place marking so I can have a proper read through later.

I had a weekday off and went into town and tried all the places I wanted!
So browsed TK Maxx, went to the cat cafe, and then tried a new burger place
Think it was £20 I spent

There's a couple of food places I want to try so going to do that, and I found the cat cafe strangely relaxing and everyone was really chatty too

I love this idea and am going to plan a few things for us too having read this thread.
I love the idea of wrapping up well and heading off for a good bracing walk. In fact I decided over the weekend that I was going to get outdoors more.
We had an impromptu trip to a local beauty spot at the weekend and dh and I walked 6K and then stopped at a fab cafe for a bowl of soup and it was such an uplifting day we decided to do it as often as we can.
I have decided to use my hours lunch break more effectively by bringing in a lunch and then using the time to walk along a scenic route not far from work instead of using the entire hour to walk to town and spend money in a cafe eating too much!
I am hoping to do this as often as I can in December and continue it in Jan.
Coupled with this I always get some new books for Christmas and I love cosying up in front of the fire with a glass of red and a great book so I plan on doing that too.
Recently dh and I attended an event, a presentation by a well known cultural person, we went to it and then went to a lovely wine bar after and had a fantastic chat about what we had seen / heard and we didn't talk about work / dc etc even once and we both said afterwards that a night out with a focus like that (theater / exhibition etc) was really enjoyable and was something we used to do a lot of before dc. Now that we are entering the teen years we have more freedom to get back to that. It is more budget dependent but hoping to sping to it once a month or so and half the fun will be in the deciding what to go to.
We also love to travel and I like to plan short city breaks so budget depending we could look at that.

Just on my lunch break and checked back in, thanks to everyone, there are so many good ideas here I'm sure they'll keep me going through February too!
Definitely going to give the yoga a go, maybe running too, I do go walking but not usually in winter.
Also, going to have a film night mid week each week.
There is a conservation project that runs near me once a month and I keep meaning to join so that would be good.
Will organise something for friends too plus check out book and lamp suggestions (and jigsaws - love them and usually get one for Xmas that I do between Xmas and NY so will hold that back).
Bring it on

I’m getting one of these to potter over
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_16?sprefix=paint+by+numbers&crid=11OZL5O24KLWR&k=paint+by+numbers+for+adults&tag=mumsnetforum-21

@Bloodybridget I will enjoy making it. I’m making Xmas decorations at the moment. That and a good film can last me through a boring day ( I have a lot of medical problems and get stuck in the house a lot ).

Buy some yarn from the charity shop and some crochet hooks from tesco and use YouTube to learn crochet.
It's brilliant

davros I was going to say the same.

So I recommend being especially nice and thoughtful to anyone who has a January birthday...they don't want to hear your whinging!

I like wrapping up and going for a short walk while it's light and then having a nice drink or lunch afterwards. I also usually try and book a few things for Jan like a film, exhibition or play or something. I agree OP, it's such a rubbish month (though I might dislike February even more, I'm not sure). I just want it to be spring/summer again

Don’t bother with shit New Years resolutions. The reason January blues exist is partly because people make ridiculous resolutions they can’t stick to then feel shit when they inevitably fail within a week or two. If you want to quit smoking or lose weight, do it now or do it whenever but don’t make it a goal specifically for the first of January.

Try not to overspend in December. This is a tricky one I know but the other reason for January blues is people spending beyond their means over Christmas then severely regretting it come January when they’re skint.

Think of something you’ve always wanted to try doing and aim to do that in January. A new hobby, learning a new skill etc. Something exciting to focus on.

Placemarking! Some great ideas here. Last winter seemed very long so a Jan Plan seems like a good idea!

I like wrapping up and walking along the beach. Where I am I’m fairly close to some lovely beaches. With some very small independent shops. So we walk along the beach ... look in the shops ... walk some more and then you hit a very gorgeous cafe / restaurant. That sells gorgeous food and coffee and is dog friendly. Even has a little second hand house clearance shop at the back which even if u walked ground for hours you would still not see anything.

Such a lovely day.