January Bucket List
Happy new year everyone! We welcome a new year with wonder and quiet reflection to help us go forward with our goals. Many people celebrate the new year with traditions or by easing into it. It’s cold outside and with winter bringing snow and dark days, it can be a difficult and slow month. I created this bucket list for you to find inspiration. To be honest, I enjoy taking a pause during this time of year. I like to allow myself slow days as I look ahead to the promise of spring, vacations, and warmer days to come. There’s lots of planning for the upcoming busy months, so take this time to enjoy the peace in still moments.
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January Bucket List
- It’s New Year’s day! Take it easy today after a busy holiday season by moving with intention. Find ways to take care of yourself that feel good. Eat yummy food, watch a movie, enjoy the winter scenery (if you have snow), or whatever else brings you comfort while ringing in the new year. You can set resolutions in your head, out loud, or in a journal. This year, my resolution is to keep working hard on my blog and to learn how to make latte art!
- Clean out the old and bring in the new! Clean your home, bedroom, or a workspace to bring in new energy. I know that cleaning doesn’t sound too fun, but it can improve your mood and can feel like a fresh start. Start small like cleaning off your desk. Play music while you clean or watch a show and it will help the task feel easier. If you need some organization inspiration, check out this article.
- Have you written your thank you cards yet for any gifts you received? Sending a text is thoughtful, but sending a thank you card is such a sweet and uplifting gesture. One of my favorite places to get thank you cards is Paper Source. A pretty card can up lift someones day.
- This is a time when resolutions to workout and get healthier are promised. If you struggle with a routine, I offer my personal experience. In 2024, I reached my goal weight loss and focused on gaining strength. I stuck to daily walks, yoga, and adding dumbbells to my pilates workouts. To keep motivated, I started slow to ease my body (and mind) into something new. It can be overwhelming to keep up a strict fitness routine so finding your favorite way to get active helps you stick with it. Another huge reason for my healthier lifestyle is using a FitBit Sense, I like seeing my goals and progress in real numbers. It’s extremely motivating and I wear it everyday!
- Take down your Christmas decorations and decorate for the winter. Once the new year has been rung in, I like to take down any holiday decorations. We do like to keep up winter decorations like dried citrus, pine wreaths, garland, pine scented candles, etc.
- Today is national shortbread day! Shortbread is a delicious buttery cookie that’s only made with a few ingredients. Try making these yummy cookies and sharing with family and friends.
- Create a vision board. A vision board is a collection of images that represent your goals, provide motivation, and inspiration. They can help you visualize your goals whether personal or professional, and help you manifest them to become reality! First, write down your goals. Get poster board, glue, and scissors. Cut out images or words from magazines, print them, or draw. Arrange the images on the board and glue them down. Keep the board somewhere you will see it everyday! By seeing the visuals often, it can help you find opportunities related to your goals, increase your motivation, and keep you focused.
- Create a healthy nighttime routine. Practice yoga to wind down, stretch, or try deep breathing exercises. Wind down by taking a warm bath or shower. Listen to music, read a book, or write in a journal. Take time for a skincare routine, use a diffuser, or drink teas that help with sleep like chamomile or lavender. Put away your electronics and stop scrolling social media before sleeping. Write to-do lists to help get everything out of your mind so it can relax. Try to get in bed 10 minutes earlier each day until you meet your goal bedtime.
- Make fire cider! Fire cider is a homemade remedy to keep your immune system healthy. It includes ingredients like apple cider vinegar, herbs, garlic, honey, and more. There are lots of different ways to make it! I like following this recipe from The Farmers Almanac. It will take a few weeks for the tonic to be ready, and once ready, you can take a tablespoon a day.
- Bundle up and go on a walk if the weather allows. January in the Midwest can be super cold and icy, but if we do have a mild day with midday sun, I dress in layers and go for a walk! It really boosts my mood and lets me appreciate the sights of this season.
- Eat nutritious meals. The weather can make us feel slower, lethargic, and lots of people get sick during this time of year. Make sure to take care of your body by eating healthy and nutritious meals.
- Get cozy with a new book. During the cold winter months I find myself much more excited to curl up with a good book. Some of my favorite books with winter themes are, The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden, Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, and The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey.
- Hang out with loved ones over tea or coffee (and cake). When the month seems a little blah, I like to ask people to get together at a cafe. It’s so nice to chat over a warm cup of tea or coffee and share a treat! This is a great way to get out of the house!
- Plan a staycation! This can be somewhere local, an hour away, or right at home. In the past we’ve stayed in downtown Chicago in pretty hotels overlooking the city! It’s just a couple of days but the change of scenery is always so welcome. I also like swimming, and it’s fun to go to the indoor pool while it’s cold outside. It helps with any blues about missing the summer.
- Appreciate the winter! Depending on where you live, the harshness of winter can vary. Some of you may be thinking that I’m crazy – it’s dark and cold which makes it hard to see the beauty of it. By learning to appreciate the change of seasons, it helped me tremendously with seasonal depression. Start by eating seasonally, making sure that you are getting full nutritious meals. Try to get outside whenever you can and make sure to dress for the weather! Let your body pause. With shorter days, our bodies response can be wanting to rest more. Let yourself go to bed earlier, or include naps during the day. Finally, realize how essential it is to have this period of rest – spring will be back soon!
- Color in an adult coloring book. These coloring books are a really relaxing way to get rid of some stress. Color while you’re watching a show or with music. I love this Secret Garden coloring book with it’s pretty scenes!
- Make a matcha latte. Matcha is a delicious Earthy tea drink, that can be sweet and creamy by adding milk and a sweetener. This is one of my favorite drinks, and I love that vibrant green color! There’s nothing like curling up with a book and a warm matcha latte. Try my recipe here!
- Manifest. The concept of manifesting is to intentionally think and live in a way that lets you achieve your goals. It’s not magic, it’s the idea of envisioning what you want and taking small steps to act towards it. Think about your big goals or dreams, or them write down. Then, start backwards from the main goal, and list small ways to work toward this goal. Move through these actions with kindness towards yourself and others, in order to look at the world with wonder and excitement! You’re doing your best and that’s all you can do. 🤗
- Dedicate one morning a week as your slow morning. This month allows us opportunities for cozy and peaceful days. To me, a slow morning is waking up without an alarm, making tea, maybe reading or doing yoga, and avoiding the rushed out the door feeling. Maybe this means getting up earlier than everyone else, or creating boundaries so you can be allowed an hour or two to yourself.
- Focus on your gut health. Eat more fermented foods, drink herbal teas that support digestion, and learn more about your gut health. It’s super important to keep our stomachs healthy!
- Get a gratitude journal or find prompts to answer in a journal you already have. This gratitude journal has pages for both morning and night reflection, which I think is unique! A lot of times you’ll read about setting intentions for your day, but sometimes it’s nice to reflect on the day and have a quiet moment at night.
- Create a new playlist. This can be any type of music! Try listening to a new genre or an artist that you have been curious about. Or maybe listen to some oldies that you haven’t heard before. My friend and I like to swap music. They send me their current favorite song and I send them mine. It might not always be your cup of tea but you never know!
- Plan a dinner date with your significant other or a friend. Planning a nice evening with good food is something to look forward to! After so many activities during the holiday months, there’s a feeling of let down during January. Maybe try a new restaurant or get dressed up and have fun with it!
- Learn something new! Has there been something that you’ve always been interested in but just haven’t had a change to learn? For me, I love learning and often go to my local library when I get an itch for something new. This year, I checked out books on flower arranging. Learning new things doesn’t have to be expensive! Look up videos or articles, go to your library, or find local classes.
- Cut or dye your hair. That mid-winter lull can have us feeling lethargic and a little bored. To combat that, schedule a haircut appointment for your usual cut. Even just getting a simple haircut can improve your mood! Or try a totally different cut, or dye your hair! Look on Pinterest for hair inspiration to show to your hairstylist.
- Work on boundaries and saying no. Having boundaries can be so important to prevent burnout and your energy being drained. It can also be tough to practice if you’re not used to it. It feels uncomfortable at first, and it’s something that you’ll navigate as you understand what your boundaries are. This article has great examples of how to work on boundaries in small ways.
- Try a winter sport. Try tubing, ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, ice fishing, and sledding, etc. If any of these suggestions don’t quite get you excited, you can always take a bundled up winter walk!
- Valentine’s day is coming soon! If you’re looking for a cute outfit, plan a shopping day. This is the dress that I picked this year from Target. Stores have already been putting Valentine’s things on display, and now’s the time to start thinking about it because the weeks are already flying by!
- Start thinking about spring break trips. It seems like spring is so far away, but it’s actually right around the corner! If you’re planning a trip during spring break, now’s the time to start looking at places and coordinating with friends or family.
- Get yourself some new nails! Whether it’s at a nail salon, press-on’s, or DIY, new nails can feel refreshing. These French tip press-on’s are my favorite. They’re simple, pretty, and can fit any occasion.
- It’s the last day of January and it’s also national hot chocolate day. Make some at home or buy it at a cafe and enjoy! If you want to go all out, plan a party and serve hot chocolate – charcuterie board style. Check out my hot chocolate board post!
I hope that this January bucket list helped you have a lovely month and that you were able to stay cozy and try something new! I’ll see you in the next month!
