To ask what you’re doing to make January more bearable

[Whatyagonnadokatie]

i have long term MH issues which are triggered by stress. Feeling a wee bit down in the dumps the last few days, and want to nip it in the bud.

return to work tomorrow morning and have the Sunday night blues. So today I have tried a wee bit of self care: a walk with the family, tidying out the bedroom and my home office, a bubble bath, DH took our son out for a couple of hours so that I could have some time to chill with a cup of tea and a book. Tonight I’m tucked in bed with the book and ginger tea. We’ve planned to go to a trampoline park tomorrow night to get the endorphins going.

it would be wonderful if you could share what you are doing to make January more bearable: just for inspiration

30 day beginner yoga course on Youtube?

Definitely getting some fresh air and exercise every day - even if you don't feel like it, even if it's raining. It instantly lifts your mood even if it's just through a change of scene. No-one ever regretted going for a walk. Hope you feel better soon.

Going away for some winter sun at a all inclusive resort for a week, can't wait

Lane swimming. Just one hour out of the house exercising does wonders for my mental health. You obviously don’t have to start out doing the full hour, but even half an hour vigorous swimming. I wasn’t a believer but wow, the GP advice was bang on for me. I could replace medication with swimming!

Getting out for a long walk every day.

Making soup.

Weight training at the gym.

Learning a language via an app.

Started a Phenology Wheel - Stitch Journal. I’m not very creative, and I’m not much of a crafter but I thought doing something that would engross me for 10/15 mins a day/evening would definitely take my brain off the work hook.

Some excellent ideas here! Thanks ladies.

i don’t think we’ll manage a week in the sun this January though, lovely as it sounds! But have fun

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4446654-Ideas-to-make-deep-midwinter-lovely-or-at-least-bearable?utm_source=thread&utm_medium=share

Hopefully that is a link to a thread started last year but recently resurrected. Lots of good ideas.

I try to make myself believe January is an exciting month - it’s a new beginning, all bad habits must die, exercise every day, chuck away all the biscuits and fruit shall be my only dessert forever etc etc. Maybe try to start something good for you, a lovely new habit that is wonderful for your body and soul: hydrating after every shower or a great evening skin routine for example. Self care ❤️

Guided meditation in the morning, Lego or drawing in the evening. I was given a little sketch pad and pencils for Christmas and am doing some simple tutorials on YouTube.

Going to a hotel in the middle of the month so that kills this month & then going to another hotel in feb, start back in March. Apart from that absolutely nothing.,

I’m focusing on self care. Meal planning, healthier eating, daily skincare, vitamins, more reading and less scrolling.
In February I’ll get back to the gym. Don’t want to stretch myself too far 😂

We always have a short break in January instead of Christmas presents. Somewhere peaceful in the UK, self catering.

I've got the January blues too, currently refusing to go to bed as that will be the end of my Xmas holiday!
Love the idea of going to trampoline Park after work tomorrow OP- something to look forward to.
I'm watching this thread with interest for some good ideas to lift my mood.
I agree fresh air and exercise helps.
I also probably need to spend less time on my phone!

Bunches of daffodils, as soon as I can get them.

Long walks
cooking nice dinners
sewing
visiting new places

@Whatyagonnadokatie sounds like you’ve made a great start with what you’ve done today!

I do a 30 day yoga challenge every January (yoga with adriene on YouTube). I love it. This is my 4th year doing it, but the first year I did it over 60 days (so every other day). I light candles if doing it in the evening and make a nice cup of herbal tea to have afterwards.

Long baths with Epsom salts and essential oils - orange oil in particular lifts my mood.

Yes to walks outside. Cosy drinks and films afterwards if the weather is horrible.

Not dieting, but thinking about lovely nourishing foods with lots of veggies (soups, stews, casseroles etc). ‘Nourish’ is a great word for this time of year I think - thinking about the things we can do for our body and mind to set us up for the rest of the year.

I must be the only person in the world that LOVES January. After the madness of Christmas it's a quiet peaceful time to catch up everything.

My birthday is just before Christmas, I never ever celebrate it then, no point, I'm a vegetarian that is never going to enjoy a turkey dinner.

My DH birthday is always just before payday in January and he hates it because no one ever wants to party, but I'm sure he has the better deal.

Years ago I decided to move my birthday to the same time as DH, best thing I ever did, we both have something to look forward to

Social media cleanse.

Spent new year's day planning a sociable month. So far I've invited friends round for dinner on the next two Fridays, arranged to meet some other friends for a Sunday lunch, booked to go to a couple of pub jazz gigs and booked tickets for a film. Today we visited a friend for coffee and had a moorland walk and a picnic.
The idea is to have at least one thing to look forward to each week so it becomes a month of fun.

@Clarabellawilliamson I am totally with you here on the daffodil front. It’s the only time of year I have fresh flowers in the house, and their little yellow blooms get me through to spring!

Definitely daffodils!
Spending time with my bunnies always lifts my mood
Trying to connect more with friends - haven’t seen my oldest friend for almost a year
Decluttering & selling stuff or donating to charity
Looking forward to some events later in the year - going to at least 2 live bands, one with DD14 which I’m particularly excited about.
Walks on virtually empty beaches followed by a hot chocolate
Plucking up the courage to set up a you tube channel for my piano compositions
Writing letters rather than messaging on social media, texting or emailing
Hoping to start line dancing if I can sort out my physical health
Going to practice mindfulness
Return to Pilates
Possibly plan a mini break to Ireland for DH’s 60th
Booking a spa day & lava shell massage with my Birthday & Christmas vouchers
Meal out with friends & a rare lunch out with DH
Researching bathrooms ( ours depresses me!)
Wearing different perfumes & jewellery
2 films I want to see
Finding out if the Bob Marley musical is going on tour
Joining a choir ( again I need to pluck up courage!)
Researching new slow cooker recipes.
Going to the donkey sanctuary

Somebody mentioned learning a language - would love to learn Italian. And if I could afford it, I would also love to have saxophone lessons.

Basic Duolingo is free! I'm learning Italian and French.
Some great ideas here. As a PP said, the midwinter thread is a good, inspiring read.

I’m thinking: tomorrow is the 3rd, so we’re a tenth of the way through. But in another week it’ll be the 10th and a third of the way through.

Also decided as of tomorrow I’m going to tidy out a drawer or cupboard every day. If it’s going to be long and cold and a bit shit, I might as well get some boring jobs out of the way.