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Original poster

Cleansing January

19 replies

frozendaisy · 30/12/2023 18:23

I know it's cold.
I know January can be grey.

But I like cleansing January after the excess of the festive season.

I like seeing through the bare trees.

I like the largely lack of plans.

I clearly prefer the warmer months but we get a January every year and am trying to give January it's place.

It's already noticeably lighter at 4.15pm.

Simpler foods.
Big declutter to eliminate as many house jobs before Spring.
Paperwork shredding
Tax return (boo).
Booking a summer holiday (hurray).

If you are lucky with a clear night the stars are amazing. One goal is to see the ISS go past this month. Seen before but it needs to be high enough and early enough.

January has it's place. Finally.

OP posts:
keeyartheseagull · 30/12/2023 18:30

I love January. New beginnings.

LadyWithLapdog · 30/12/2023 18:36

I thought it’s be a thread about colonic irrigation.

On a more serious note, I agree with your thoughts. Here’s to new beginnings.

ProfYaffle · 30/12/2023 18:42

Season of sunrises on the way to work. I even quite like the freshness of scraping ice off the car in the mornings!

LadyWithLapdog · 30/12/2023 18:51

@ProfYaffle don’t you use the hot water in a bag method for the windows?

ProfYaffle · 31/12/2023 05:36

LadyWithLapdog · 30/12/2023 18:51

@ProfYaffle don’t you use the hot water in a bag method for the windows?

No, found it a pita. Bags leaking or bursting or just not working very well.

headcheffer · 31/12/2023 06:05

I LOVE January. I love that there's minimal expectations on social plans, and it's a nice chance to be quite self focused. A time to review your previous year, make little adjustments to better meet your goals in life, and it usually feels a time of plenty because you have all your new Christmas bits.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 31/12/2023 08:00

I like January too. I find the excesses of Christmas really overwhelming and I like the unknown of the year ahead.

reasyeasyballoon · 31/12/2023 08:33

I LOVE January for its calmness and quiet. I love a very frugal month. Clear diary. Clean eating. Fresh air. Zero expectations from anyone else. No demands. Lots of walks, reading, catching up on TV and usually a period of self care!

user1471538283 · 31/12/2023 08:45

I never used to like January because of the slump after Christmas.

I've always put the decorations away and had a big clean on New Year's Day and this year I'm decluttering stuff and my mind. I'm going to rest more, walk more, lose weight and eventually get on top of stuff.

I also always have a little UK winter break in January which is early enough to still see the decorations but it's quiet because no one holidays in the cold in the places I go to!

Bestyearever2024 · 31/12/2023 08:47

LadyWithLapdog · 30/12/2023 18:36

I thought it’s be a thread about colonic irrigation.

On a more serious note, I agree with your thoughts. Here’s to new beginnings.

Proper laugh out loud! Have you ever had that done? I really want to , but I'm scared!

OP - this is a wonderful thread. I keep reading your opening post, it's so filled with positivity 🥰

Sususudio · 31/12/2023 08:48

I got rid of my uterus in December. Now that was cleansing! now need some self-care to recover in January.

I have got up early to declutter today. Really need to.

Sususudio · 31/12/2023 08:53

Sorry, I killed the thread with that gruesome revelation, not like the OP's gentle post!

Bestyearever2024 · 31/12/2023 08:59

Sususudio · 31/12/2023 08:48

I got rid of my uterus in December. Now that was cleansing! now need some self-care to recover in January.

I have got up early to declutter today. Really need to.

I wanted to ask if you're taking sage and black cohosh? But it's a bit of a thread derail 😳

Sususudio · 31/12/2023 09:09

@Bestyearever2024 I may do, soon. Thank you.

Yes, total thread derail by me, sorry. Let's go back to cleansing thoughts. I have just gathered three bags of rubbish to throw out; cards, post, papers.

I am also filling up my new year planner, though I usually give up by March.

I am going to walk by the river today and also see a calming exhibition of watercolour prints.

ThreeRingCircus · 31/12/2023 09:20

I used to hate January and the post-Christmas slump but a few years ago I decided there's no point spending a whole month every year feeling grumpy and miserable so I decided to embrace it and actually really like it now.

I enjoy planning what I'll do in the garden in the coming year. I have a notebook to jot my thoughts and ideas down and find gardening a good excuse to be forward-looking.

I top up the flower beds with a mulch and spring clean the shed.

Declutter things in the house, drop off any unwanted Christmas presents to the charity shop and have a sort through the clothes we didn't wear the previous year that can also be donated.

I try and go for walks and eat lots of comforting, restorative food. Lots of soups, casseroles and spicy vegetable noodles. Warm food eaten from bowls.

What I like most is that plans are quieter, there are less expectations and I don't feel guilty for staying inside and relaxing. I view it as a month for self care so lots of hot baths, watching a new TV series, reading etc. Doing less and just "being" more.

JingleSnowmanTree · 31/12/2023 09:23

Bestyearever2024 · 31/12/2023 08:59

I wanted to ask if you're taking sage and black cohosh? But it's a bit of a thread derail 😳

Show quote history

@Sususudio I hope the recovery goes well. Follow Drs orders!!

if you fancy listening to a YouTube/podcast whilst decluttering Dana K White is THE BEST!!

her no mess declutter system is really good!!

@frozendaisy i lived in NZ for years, a new school year starts ( none of this September nonsense) it's summer etc & despite having lived back here for 20 years (on & off for the first 10 while travelling/living in ski resorts & stuff) it still very much feels like A Good Thing.

I love NZ, but I really missed the seasons, especially living in Auckland. So I try to remember to appreciate them ALL here!

it's going to be a year of change, in the middle of the year my job will no longer exist & at 55 that's a worrying thing (especially given my health isn't the best & my job has been one that allows me to work around it, but it's a unique position, so I need to change what I do.

lots of other things going on this year too, all a bit worrying & some very difficult decisions. But it is what it is and I'm just going to have to get on with it!

I wish everyone a good year & I wish for peace in Ukraine 🇺🇦 and for all impacted by the dreadful situation in Gaza & surrounds.

Brontosaurus · 31/12/2023 10:15

I like January too. I understand why lots of people don't, but there's lots about it that I enjoy.

That lovely 'fresh new beginning' feeling. I get the same thing in September.

Ordering seeds for the year ahead. It's my first proper treat of the new year and I love spending hours choosing what to grow.

Give the garden a spruce up - weeding the patio, mulching the borders and pots, picking up all the fallen bark from the eucalyptus tree.

I always ask for books for Christmas so January is often spent reading long awaited books.

I pick a few areas of the house to declutter. Usually have a few trips to charity shops, both to drop things off and see what other people have donated, as lots of people have the same idea come January, so you can pick up some great things. Often unwanted Christmas presents. Particularly good for cookbooks and toys, I find.

I like the stark trees too, but knowing that the blossom isn't too far off.

I also enjoy choosing a new calendar for the kitchen and going through it transferring all the dates and relevant information from the old one. It's satisfying.

I usually pick a new tv show to watch, a new game to play, and get a renewed sense of energy for other hobbies too.

Original poster
frozendaisy · 31/12/2023 12:01

The thousand arms of the forest were grey, and its million fingers silver.

Nice description (clearly not mine) of bare trees.

OP posts:
Original poster
frozendaisy · 31/12/2023 12:11

Sususudio · 31/12/2023 08:48

I got rid of my uterus in December. Now that was cleansing! now need some self-care to recover in January.

I have got up early to declutter today. Really need to.

Don't overdo it.

Look after your healing body first.

Do some gentle sit on the couch shredding paperwork decluttering it all counts

OP posts:
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