Christmas has been and gone, the decorations are down, you’ve eaten your own body weight in chocolate and it all feels a little...flat. But, rest assured, there are plenty of ways to give yourself that bit of joy you’re missing during the drabbest month of the year. As a great starting point, here are 5 things you can do to beat the January blues.

1) Light up your life

Yes, you may have said goodbye to the tree and wreath, but, if you love the cosy, warming feeling you get at Christmas, there’s nothing to stop you from holding onto it indefinitely. Why not keep the fairy lights out and put them up around your living room or bedroom? After all, just because the festive period is over, doesn’t mean it needs to dark and dreary. 

There’s nothing like a twinkling light to add a bit of cheer. And it’s not just the fairy lights that will give your room that gorgeous glow. Remember the mountain of scented candles people got you for Christmas, or that you have lurking at the back of a cupboard? Get them lit, get cosy on the sofa and put on your favourite film or playlist. You’ll be feeling those hygge vibes in no time! 

2) Make a list

If, like me, you feel more organised - and that bit more positive - by making a list, why not create a to-do list for the year? This could be as simple as writing down the tasks you need to finish around your new home, or it could be as exciting as jotting down all the places you’d like to visit this year. It could even be a list of challenges you want to face throughout the year. The world’s your oyster. 

The idea behind this is just to get you thinking about what you want out of the year, and realising that, actually, January is just one tiny little part of 2023. Having something to look forward to is a great tonic. There are plenty of adventures to be had at home, abroad or just by hopping on a train for the day. They’re just at the end of a pen nib. 

3) Soak up the self-care

After Christmas, it’s easy to start forgetting about self-care - especially when you go back to a massive pile of work, or you have kids. It can almost feel a little selfish but, honestly, if you want to thrive and feel like the best version of yourself, you need to give yourself a bit of ‘me time’. 

So, how can you do that? Well, it could be as fancy as going to a spa or out for a nice meal, or it could be as simple as staying home by yourself and treating yourself to a relaxing moment of peace. 

If you fancy the latter, I have just the things to help you unwind. First, there’s my lavender-scented Charlotte Macey wheat bags, which are the perfect, warming solution for placing on aching joints and a lovely way to soothe muscles (made from sustainable linen and locally-grown lavender). So, if you’re feeling run-down, put your feet up, grab a herbal tea and snuggle up with this beautifully fragrant instant soother. 

And if you’re looking for the ultimate relaxing moment, I’d suggest pairing your wheat bag with my Charlotte Macey eye pillows. Filled with flaxseed and lavender, these eye pillows are amazing at alleviating stress and bringing a much needed sense of calm. All you need to do is heat them in the microwave for 30 seconds and place the pillow over your eyes...then just let it work its magic.

For more details of these products and more, check out the self-care section of my website.

4) Surround yourself with love

When the buzz of the festivities is over and you’re feeling drab, one of the best things you can do is to surround yourself with people who lift you up. For some, that’s family, for others it’s friends. Whomever it is for you, why not plan a video call, suggest going for a coffee, or just invite them round for a catch up when you’re able to? There’s nothing better than giggles with your favourite people.

5) Take up a new hobby

With a new year comes a fresh slate. A chance to try something different and, perhaps, push yourself. You may have been putting off something you’ve fancied trying for ages, or something you started a while ago and didn’t have the opportunity to continue. Well, now’s as good a time as ever. 

It doesn’t matter what your finances are looking like, there are so many things you can try. Whether it’s a new language on an app like Duolingo, baking, hiking or learning to dance - what’s the worst that can happen? You try it and you don’t like it. Then you move on. On the other hand, you may just have found a new passion.

Not only will it help shake off those dreary January blues, but it might ignite something in you that you didn’t realise was there. Plus, who knows who you might meet along the way...or where it might take you. 

So, hopefully that gives you a few ideas about how to make January that bit more appealing. Now, excuse me while I go switch on the fairy lights, grab a cuppa and my cosy wheat bag for my neck. I’m feeling more hygge by the second! Cheerio, folks!