To ask for a January “comfort and cheer” thread?

[crabsaremisunderstood]

I can’t be alone in struggling a bit now that the festivities are over and we are left with the reality of long, dark days, cold nights and the doom and gloom constantly on the news.

Please post things you do to see you through these long, dark months. Nice things you do at home, fun plans, lovely comforting recipes… anything.

I’m seeing two west end shows in January, and plan to cook a big hearty stew on New Year’s Day with my beloved Le Creuset pan. I got some Nordic socks for Christmas and will transfer the fairy lights from my tree to around my fireplace.

looking forward to a special holiday in 2023.

Great idea for a thread, thanks!
I like looking forward to Spring, buy some bulbs to plant, bring out my amaryllis bulbs from the darkened cuboard, in about 4 weeks they look like huge tropical flowers and last for ages. I like buying some Spring like clothes, maybe a linen scarf, light jeans, cotton tops, merino cardigan. Cooking in slow cooker while playing podcasts is good, making a roast, anything that makes house smell nice. I look forward to change, declutter and try to organise the house differently. I want to enjoy Christmas and do enjoy bits but the emotional angst, stress makes me unwell in the lead up to it, so anything afterwards feels a relief. I'd love some ideas on how to start the ideas I've got for creative pursuits and learning to be in the moment more.

It's my birthday in January. Doing a facial and afternoon tea. I always enjoy my birthday month.

I haven't been very well recently so in January I'm treating myself to a local meal prep subscription to take a little pressure off.

I haven't been doing great lately, even though I had an amazing year, I had a miscarriage in November. It was devastating. So I'm turning back to exercising, but not at home, I'm treating myself to a gym membership in a nice gym close to my house.

I much prefer January to, say, June or July.

Yes everyone is skint in January, but I sleep better for it as the mornings are still dark. I can plan long weekends away because no one else is doing it. Enjoy city breaks, cozy evening meals in a gastro- pub. Netflix evenings.

July is too much noise as everyone is out, and it's more difficult to get a holiday in as everyone else has the same idea. It's light at 4AM so if you wake up at or soon after that point, it's impossible to get to sleep again. Then it's doubly hard with the heat. At least it's easier to warm up in January than it is to cool down in July. The insects are at it as well.