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!

I always re arrange things and update my home. Just in small ways. So move furniture around and perhaps buy some fairy lights to string up and last year I changed the accessories in my kitchen from chrome to pastel colours. Brightened up January
Active wise, yoga with adriene 31days of yoga.
Then an outing planned for each weekend of money allows. I actually quite enjoy January.

Try doing a big declutter Marie Kondo style. It will be so satisfying and will set you up for the year!

January, apart from being skint is not really that bad. Remember the nights are stretching out and it will soon be Spring.

Well that's how I cope. I hate December myself. Too much hype about Christmas. Far too dark and dreary. So I swerve all that. No kids, just us two codgers so we can successfully get through the madness. Sometimes!

Getting out and about is important though. Even if it is just for half an hour up the road or whatever.

I love the idea of hiding 50quid to be found in January though. Genius!

I really need to get that Marie Kondo book even though I feel I’m missing the point by adding another book to my already groaning haul.

Ps: this thread is making me excited for January!

Another one to do is The January Cure

here

Write down 31 things to try or do. Some could be simple like 'buy a nice cake' or 'read one chapter of a book with a cuppa' and some could be more active e.g. 'go for a walk no matter the weather'. Some things should be free like 'look up some favourite old theme songs on youtube'. If you can, hide a £5 in one of the notes!
Every day pull a random task out of the jar. Do that thing.

I love January because Christmas is hell so it's maximum distance away!

Is everyone still on track to make January less dull? 🤔

I've bought 52 lists for happiness and am going to try and find time away from the house to actually do the exercises.

Last winter just seemed sooooo long. I'm dreading this year.

I've two embroidery patches to.make as a project; going to take trainers to work to make sure I get get at least 30mins walking outdoors each day; meal plan for each week so we enjoy easy healthy food not turn to the chips!

Should've said, all the above are to force a bit of positivity through accomplishing lots of little things during the month.

Find a few things you no longer need/want and sell them cheaply on Facebook/eBay/Gumtree, use the money for a treat.

Get a free trial of Netflix/Prime and get stuck into a good TV series.

There are four weeks in January or four weekends, find four local villages nearby to visit either in the week or on the weekend. You could walk along the high street, have a coffee at a coffee shop, have a nosy in the local stores, or (my favourite) take a photo from a spot of the village. But really do tell yourself that 'between 10am-3pm, I will visit village X '.

I did this once after having moved into a region and I had an active 2 year old. We visited local villages once a week in Jan and I took a photo of the clock tower (if there was one), to the delight of the toddler. I have fond memories. Some were more rewarding than others. But it was a positive experience overall.

Go charity shop hunting with £10 and see what you can find. Lots of people donate unwanted gifts so you could buy yourself something nice.
Gyms often do a free trial in Jan so you could have a swim, sauna etc.
Try cooking something new and invite a friend round to share it.
Go to the library and borrow some fab books.
Plan a day/ weekend out for the spring to look forward to.

Celebrate Burn's Night with a Scottish themed meal.

Geocaching?

Big Garden Birdwatch 26-28th Jan.

Swimming (no rain!)

Read a new book a week.

Daffodils. Normally they appear mid Jan in the supermarkets, pound a bunch. I get several bunches and they really brighten the month.

Ah yes, the appearance of lovely bright daffodils!

Taking a long view here: try and put aside some money regularly for Christmas and then try and get the bulk of it organized in November, to take the financial pressure off December/January. Even if it’s just to throw small change in a jar, it all helps. (Not much good right now, but it will help for next year)

I used to find January a very hard month, full of frustrated resolutions, impossibly high standards and self denial.

I love January now because Christmas and all it’s associated work is over for another year. It’s too soon to spring clean (a benefit of an open fire) and there’s time for reading and crafts and laziness.

I firmly believe in embracing the seasons rather than fighting against them and our animal instincts. Winter is a time for warm food, slowing down and being indoors (almost hibernating) and definitely not for punitive dieting or excessive exercise. Lovely wintry walks followed by a hot shower and hot soup are as active as I get. I do try to get outside in daylight every day for a few minutes at least.

January is the season of good books, open fires, snuggly hot water bottles, casseroles and soups, and Netflix binges.

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We're trying to use January to purge the excess of Xmas so we want to keep it really simple and relaxing, and focus on 2019. We're going to clear out and sell stuff we don't need, have a no spend Jan for non essentials, not see people that we don't like and check our budgets/bank statements to cut waste. Xmas just ran away from us with a constant stream of mostly shitty relatives and unnecessary spending.

Yes, great perspectives on January Alana and Blackcat!
Things always work better when you go with the flow, rather than working against it.

As MrsMoastyToasty said, a Burns Night supper gives you something to look forward to at the end of January. A bunch of us do that every year, with haggis and neeps, followed by Cranachan. We all dress up in tartan and we all “do a turn”.

So now that we got through January, how was it??