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!

Whats keeping me going: - Habit, just buggering on.

Playing the drums a lot.

Hate it
Just counting the days until the Spring.

The Traitors! Genuinely all I live for 😂

Hate it
only thing that gets me through is the fact it will soon be over
next year, I’m going away in Jan or I’m doing something nice to break up how horrible, cold and misterable it is
i do think that the fog has made it ten time worse and depressing

I like January, none of that festive socialising nonsense. Painting , reading

@Crucible Yes!!! Unbelievable!

I'd literally posted a WTF reply on a post here about a baby shower registry. I've never heard such nonsense. The very next day, I receive an invite to my first ever baby shower. With a gift registry link! Talk about tempting fate!

I'm 53 btw. Baby showers weren't a thing when my DC were born. Actually, my eldest is 26 later this week - do you think I could hold a belated baby shower and list things like fancy candles, Deliveroo vouchers, dog sitter sessions??

Hmmmm, maybe I will start a trend!

they've just started filming Good Omens 3. hoping for lots of BTS pics and so on to keep me going.
I'm gutted we're only getting 90 minutes instead of a full series, but grateful we got that instead of cancellation.
and with it being shorter, maybe it will be out sooner, so, every cloud...

Yes. I don’t want to hear cosy either.

Im trying to make it a really healthy month but so far I don’t feel the healthy glow of wellness or the inner light of great nutrition and consistent exercise. I just feel burning resentment and a Pathological desire for crisps. FML.

Flowers. As soon as the Christmas tree is down on the last day of Christmas I get a potted hyacinth and loads and loads of daffodils. Daffs in every room, replaced each week, and watching the hyacinth grow. Spotting the snowdrops outside our front window that come every year too.

Also - The Traitors, cooking really nice food (we went to M&S yesterday and spent a bomb on treaty dinner stuff), wine, books on my Kindle, a huge WC candle my friend got me for Christmas which I burning every evening, the heated throw, dual control electric blanket on the bed, and my cat. (Although he gifted me a sparrow earlier which I could have done without. Shoutout to DP for both dealing with that and hoovering up the feathers.)

I am struggling more than usual this year. I think it’s because I was off over Christmas and really enjoyed it. I am fighting against the daily grind that’s set back in.

I wrote three things I am grateful for (yes it’s that desperate). They include my lunch, a kitten I met, and a painting I finished. Nothing thrilling. Apparently this will rewire my brain in a month and I’ll be all sunshine and rainbows.

Only good thing is I’ve hardly spent a penny all month as I’ve been locked down with a serious lack of motivation.

I have made plans for Feb, when I plan to resurface properly.

Read books and go walks! That’s the way.

Deep cleaned my whole house. Made £600 on Vinted. Lost 1 stone.

I used to hate January with every fibre of my being. Then I moved to the Southern Hemisphere, drastic I know, but now I love January! Although my July birthday has moved from Summer to winter which sucks.

@OldTinHat now that is annoying and weird at once; hearing about them then getting a blooming invite. No way I'd be getting involved in that sort of nonsense, I'd send a card and not go. (Miserable bugger me..it's all just so bloody OTT)

Booking holidays 😁

Warm pastries and coffee every morning, cosy jumpers, twinkly lights and knowing I'm going away for a few days by myself at the end of the month. First time I've been away from my 5 DC for more than a night, can't wait!

I'm loving January this year!

I recently emigrated so living somewhere new and exciting.

I've made friends so I'm socialising every weekend (definitely no dry January this year).

Met a FWB recently and we've been having a different kind of fun haha.

I've been exercising nearly every day and having beauty/skin treatments (had a fab facial today).

Going skiing at the end of the month.

Also this! In the last couple of days I've booked a holiday in July around a big European music festival (still buzzing that we got tickets 🤩) and a hiking trip in the Canadian Rockies this September.

So sorry for your losses hope you have some real-life support xxx

I have SAD so Sertraline, my SAD lamp, a cocktail of vitamins, exercise and my dog. But mostly the fact that I have no choice but to plod through and dream of spring.

We've booked a holiday today to the Greek Islands for later this year, so something to look forward to.

I'm not a big fan of January, or this whole time of year to be honest. Nights still too long and dark. I get through it by watching the evenings drawing out by a moment or two each day. A small step towards the longer and lighter days that I love so much.

Plus, it's generally roo cold aa well. February isn't much better but at least it is a short month and the days are still lengthening.

Roll on spring.

Last year I put £30 a month aside from Feb-Nov as a January savings pot meaning I had £300 to spend on myself in January.

I haven't actually spent that much but I've used it in small treats I wouldn't normally have
So far I've treated myself to

A pot of hyacinths
Chai Lattte
New gloves
Posh conditioner

I might spend the remainder on going out for lunch with DH at the weekend. Or maybe going out for breakfast

Fighting the flab, dry Jan and holiday planning.

The days are definitely getting longer. Spring bulbs are popping up in the garden, snowdrops are starting to flower.
Today I’ll be taking some of the bulbs I’d potted up and planting them in bowls to bring inside the house.

Always have fresh flowers for some extra colour. Fairy lights to brighten a dull day.

Reading, doing jigsaws, I’d not done a jigsaw for many years but I’d seen wentworth ones recommended on the board, and they are beautiful.