What's getting you through January

[mamaduckbone]

I'm not a fan of January - trying to shift some Christmas flab, save money and be dry-ish - so I've been trying to find things to do to make it bearable.

This year so far - jigsaws and Ted Lasso. Lovely gentle feel-good telly, and a jigsaw gives my hands something to do to get me off my phone.

Also, planning nice things to look forward to - I've arranged a meet-up and lunch with a good friend at half term and plan to book something nice with ds2 to break up his GCSE mock revision that week too.

What about you? What makes January bearable? More ideas are always good!

Gutting my house. Every piece of furniture pulled out cleaned behind. All cupboards wardrobes drawers all sorted, cleared out . Shed and garage left to do. I like to go into spring with the house in shape and can start on the garden.
Also afternoon naps are a must in January for me helps me recoup. I'm fortunate I'm able to do this around wfh and dcs.

The Traitors (and the mn thread on it)

Various YouTube rabbit holes. Just watched a guy taking the longest bus journey on earth from one side of South America to the other.

That and alcohol and gardening. Not in that order.

🤣 Why?! This is the best! Adding in tea and a good book too, you understand.

Usually January is quiet and dull and I end up feeling bleak. This year I'd already resolved to cheer up January with nice comfort food, things I wouldn't normally go to the trouble of making like homemade pies etc. I've found this really therapeutic.

The absolute game changer though has been seeing good friends. I was ill in December and ended up postponing a couple of gatherings to January so the past two weekends have been more sociable than January usually would be. Two weekends spent with close friends who we've just had the warmest loveliest time with. I'm definitely feeling mentally better ATM than I usually do at this stage. Much more effective than the daylight lamp!

My heated throw 🥶

We got a puppy. I’m exhausted but she’s worth it and string her with my older dog is just the cutest. Couldn’t have gone better… although he does look rather tired too 😂

overall, January can fuck off. Usually I don’t mind it but this one is rubbish - dh’s whole organisation is restructuring and it’s toxic, I’ve fallen over twice (nothing broken thankfully) and I’ve stalled in my weight loss. Onwards to February.

My favourite Christmas present! I adore it. Especially after a 3am garden trip with the puppy.

I wish I had that level of motivation! Our house could really do with this but I just can't muster the energy to do it.

My credit card!!

Crazy expenses this month. Vet bills, having to pay for mega expensive travel for family members due to a misunderstanding, birthdays (okay, so I knew about the birthdays!), a baby shower registry gift thing which I'd WTF at, at a post last week and here am I, the next day, invited to one and sent the link and having to buy a gift.

Is it possible for people to hibernate, like a tortoise, and just erase winter, Christmas, extra energy bills, etc?! I mean, I'd have to find a shipping container to fit my ass in, not a cardboard box, but, a thought??

I like checking the weather on bbc every day to see how much more light we will have in two weeks.
Buying daffodils to brighten things up.

Thanks for posting this and sharing the nicer side of January! It's a slow one but I just try to embrace it! We've done lots of woodland walks, spent time with family, played card games! It's quite nice after the madness of Christmas.

Birthday on Wednesday for me, nice lunch planned at fav restaurant. Think they curse me since none of them have been paid yet!!. Nights getting lighter, roll on spring.

I never do dry January. Why anyone does that during the worst month of the year is beyond me!

Getting back into reading. I never seem to have time to read during December.

Prosecco, toblerone, garlic prawn Waitrose pizza & lighter nights are keeping me going!. also planning summer camping trips too.

This has been the worst Jan ever! Dog just been diagnosed diabetic so it’s going to be both very stressful and very expensive. Car MOT & service just cost £250, Before any treatment on my dog, it’s been £305 already just to diagnose him. Plus I need to book my scale & polish in which is another £120. I only earn £1088 per month!

Yes I’m checking my weather app daily for each added few minutes of daylight too

Wine. I tried Dry January and caved after 5 days (in fairness my DM died before Christmas)

Jan is fine. I much prefer it to Sep, Oct and Nov where the days are getting darker. Jan is only a month and a bit away from Spring.

The worst thing about January is that the gym is fecking heaving.

I like January, nice and quiet. Daffodils and hyacinths. Is been dry here so been walking. Seeing friends, watching tv, cooking more and just chilling. It’s lighter now too. Booked a holiday too.

Love winter and January is a real treat for me. Cold, cosy, snuggly, joyful! I know I sound nuts to most people… I’ve always loved winter but it’s got more pronounced with age. Have some health issues that cause heat intolerance so holding onto my world of books, lovely wool coats, boots, stove aglow, apple crumble, roast potatoes and a frosty Narnia world outside for just a bit longer.

The promise of spring, and allowing myself to live slowly as I remind myself that it’s still winter.

The first flickers of new beginnings and preparing for the year ahead start at Imbolc - 1st Feb this year.

1. Reading P. G. Wodehouse’s Jeeves and Wooster stories (a Christmas present).

2. Listening to Stephen Fry read Sherlock Holmes on audiobook.

3. Looking forward to walking my dog in the countryside on the first soft, sunny spring day (or the bits of countryside that haven’t been ruined by new build housing estates).

4. Re-watching I Claudius (the brilliant BBC series from the 1970s).

5. Eating warmed up raspberry croissants in Neros.

Audio books.
Noticing it is getting darker a tiny bit later.
Been on a spa day today and my friend amd l are going to make it an annual thing.

I've been decluttering and taking advantage of the sales.

There are now gift registries for baby showers? Jesus.