Five Things to Do This January

Photo by Raquel Reyes.

Happy New Year! Time seems to be moving quickly yet again — with January comes a million feelings, a million chances, but there’s no need to rush. The pressure to begin again can be overwhelming, but there will always be another moment to seize and we definitely intend to seize them. It’s a whole new year, a new decade, and that only has to mean as much power as we give it, but can also mean a whole lot if we want it to. For us at The Attic, the plan is to move forward with gratitude, for all of you who continue to support us, for everything we’ve learned; with mindfulness towards our resolutions, and with hope for the future. It’s only January, after all, there is plenty of time to get things done. Here’s what we’re doing this month...

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Start slow.

Social pressure and endless adverts at the stroke of midnight on January 1st (and sometimes even earlier) can lead us to believe that every new thing, every magical improvement we go through, has to happen immediately, along with five or ten more. Ignore it. Take a day, or a week, or however long you need to simply reset and get back to a normal functioning life. You’ve got an entire holiday season to recover from, remember? And when the time comes...

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Make one resolution.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting something in the new year, whether it’s a reading goal, job search, or more time for hobbies you enjoy. Resolutions fail when we try to do them all perfectly, and all at once, from the second we start. The reality can be disheartening enough to make us stop, but the key is building small steps. One resolution this month, one resolution next, and so on. Make a list if you must but only start with the most urgent or exciting to you, make it a habit, and the motivation to succeed at the rest will keep you going later.

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Take Your Vitamins.

In whatever form that means for you. As we reach midwinter, the cold and darkness can lead to deficiencies in vitamin D, leading to seasonal depression. Not to mention illnesses of all sorts; cold, flu, infections. Vitamin C, B12, probiotics — speak to your GP or conduct the necessary research so you’ve got whatever you need (whether through supplements or adding the right fruits and vegetables to your diet!) to make it through the season.

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Pick a seasonal read.

Whether a classic or something more recent, there’s no denying January is the perfect time to finally pick up a seasonal read after the hectic plans and festive reads of December. Escape to a different time or place, where the cold seems downright glamorous, or at least less miserable than it might feel wherever you are once that middle-of-the-month-slump hits.

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Plan something to look forward to.

When the January blues fully set in, plan a dinner party, day trip, or a weekend away if you can. If there’s something even bigger in the near future; a special birthday or reunion with friends that’s possible, start researching plans and ideas and record them somewhere for reference when the event arrives. It is a whole new year, after all, and the most exciting part is whatever good might happen in it.

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Raquel Reyes is Creative Director at The Attic on Eighth. She enjoys styling photo shoots, dramatic hair accessories, and old fashioned cocktails.