To ask how you cheer yourself up at this time of year?

[Rainydaysmeanmuddypuddles]

I'm trying not to let January get me down, it's just another month at the end of the day, but my gosh it's shit.

The fun and excitement of Christmas is long gone, it's back to work and school. Spring still feels like forever away. The routine feels so monotonous.

Are there any little ways that you cheer yourself up?

Getting out to my allotment when it's not raining
Having a clear out of the house (just done the loft)
Hibernating on the sofa when it's horrid outside
Making plans to see friends

I’m decluttering like mad
I’m enjoying spending all this time in my home. It’s the longest I’ve spent here since last February
I’m catching up with family ..I do see them throughout the year..often..but more so now
Resting more
I’m booking lovely things to do..lake district next month, a weekend in Wiltshire in April and a music festival in May
Going to the cinema
Oooh yes..catching up on loads of Netflix
Baking cakes
Pretending to loose weight...oops.
Really just chilling
From Feb onwards life gets hectic as we spend three weeks in Tenerife, then after that 4 nights a week at our caravan till it’s time to visit family and friends for two weeks in Dorset and Wales.
Got to get it all stuffed i. Somehow..I’m very nearly an old lady

I just embrace the cosy, like others.
If my house is clean and tidy, I love relaxing with Netflix or a book.

Get out as much as you can, even if it’s dreary weather. It can make all the difference and make you grateful for your home.
Meet friends too.
So far this year, I’ve met a friend for coffee, gone out for lunch and shopping with a friend and gone out for regular walks with family and friends.
I’ve almost finished a book (I’m a rubbish reader normally) and got two others to go.

Clean sheets every Saturday morning so weekend sleeps are the comfiest.

Meet friends for coffee at each others houses for affordable catch ups.

Plan/book a summer holiday or things to do when the better weather comes.

Bubble baths!

Find a good book or TV series.

Gym 4 times a week.

Running outside
Lots of exercise classes
Waking the dog
Seeing friends

By eating a full box of Prestat Marc de champagne truffles (Which I’ve just finished polishing off - yum!)

Running and swimming to give myself a boost every day.
Otherwise fires, good book, good telly, board games.

Another vote for garden planning, I've already sowed the seeds for the plants which will be giving me chillies in August and am browsing seed catalogues and dahlia tubers to make sure summer is awesome!

Flannel sheets, electric blanket, good book
Country walks, fireside teas
A box set
Puddings with custard

Started the month with a mastectomy, finishing it with a big fuck off birthday party for ME!
Planning on getting into bird feeding inspired by thread on here, (re)learning to play lots of card games, finishing the jigsaw I started three months ago. Looking forward to a week away in half term, looking forward to getting back to driving and drinking (not together!) and swimming.

Cake. No January healthy eating regime here!

Allotment and garden planning
Keeping an eye out for bulbs coming up
Feeding the birds - I work from home two days a week and can see the feeders from where I work
Planning which Wainwrights I'm going to climb this year
Spending time at the climbing wall and feeling myself improve every week
Watching the time the sun rises increase by a minute or so every day on the Met office website - this really lifts my spirits

Got 2 holidays during January! One of 4 days, one for a week
Quite a few of my friends are v busy in Xmas run up so we do a meal out in January instead - I also try and factor in a few extra things like haircut and getting my nails done - meeting a friend for coffee
Works out that every 3-4 days I have something to look forward to
February is a short month so will try and diet and exercise heaps
By March I’m looking forward to spring

I can’t really add much more than what has already been written. But one thing I do at this time of year is make a massive effort not to get dragged into the whole January is rubbish mindset. This doesn’t apply to people with diagnosed illness etc. But generally I think we can easily talk ourselves into thinking nothing good is going on, planning nothing and making it come true.

Vitamin D and B12
Log burner
Weighted blanket
Daylight bulbs in the house
Enriching foods like vegetarian soups and stews
Fresh air and light exercise
Planning things to look forward to
Preparing the greenhouse and garden for planting

I saw snowdrops today. Spring is on its way....

Having a night out with friends

Yoga

Watch ted talks

Can Pinterest

Shop in sales

Walk in the fresh air

Comfy clothes

DIY manicure and pedicure

Flowers

Candles

Throws and slipper boots

Duvet days

Board games and card games with the kids

Baking

Books

Sorting/ categorising/ decluttering

Hot baths with nice products

Making plans
Clean bedding
Hot bath
Self care
Filling food
Exercise
Flowers
Read/crosswords/crafts

I eat a lot of mash. I love mash and January is the perfect month for it 😁

Thinking 'Wow I've got a whole new year ahead of me to make life changes'.

• Watching Netflix

• Putting up/switching on fairy lights

• Getting enough sleep

• Taking bubble baths

• Vitamin D

• Hot chocolate

• Eating cooked blackberries and apples with custard most nights

I would have thought people would have had their fill of cosy by now.

Since I don't find November and December fun and exciting I think January is actually much more cheerful. It's getting lighter now and every day is a day nearer spring and summer.

I hate this time of year, and usually end up drinking too much and eating too much choclate. DP just breezes thru it, but I find it gets worse as I get older. Must run a bubble bath.

I normally go skiing in January, but I have an injury at the moment so I've bought myself some nice bits and arranged a few things with friends.