January - the fullness of winter, a fresh beginning, regular schedules, and dreaming up new goals. I always appreciate putting away the bulk of holiday decorations and welcoming simplicity back into my home. I love the extra space to look ahead and ask myself what I want this year to hold.

For whatever reason, it's easy to already feel behind in January - anybody else? Especially if you've had a busier holiday season, it can feel like everyone else has had a chance to sit down and make their new year goals before January 1.

I just want to challenge that narrative with this thought:

All of January can be your reset, your downtime, your goal-setting time, your deep breath in and out.

Take the time you need. You’re not behind, and you're not in any kind of race!

Because I need to remind myself all of those things too, I jotted down a few tips and reminders on how to have a great January. Take a look and gather up some gentle fortitude for this first month of a new decade!

Turn down the noise

In general, there’s just a lot of noise that comes from the holidays, and that carries over into the new year. Promo emails, podcasts, new releases, and the chatter around resolutions, clubs, or challenges to join up with. None of those are bad things at all!

But I want to invite you to create some space for yourself this month. Don’t read the promos or succumb to any pressure that you need to be doing something special (or buying something else) to be a success this month, this year, or this decade. You are enough!

And if you need a break from social media (and you know if you do) - I have a few tips for you here to help inspire you and to help you get the absolute most out of your time off.

Clean up/clean out

It doesn’t have to be anything crazy, but as I said, I always enjoy cleaning up Christmas decorations and getting things re-set in my home come January. This is a natural time to clean things out as well! This could be your fridge after all the holiday leftovers, your car, or even who you follow on Instagram. Take a brief moment and ask yourself what you might want to clean out this month!

Do something creative for fun

Now that you have some extra clean space, I encourage you to do something creative for fun, something that brings you joy and fills up your heart a little! This is something I’m super passionate about - everyone deserves creative expression! Set aside 30 minutes to read a book or magazine, write in a journal, or make a collage of inspirational images for this new year. Or, take a little field trip to an art museum, movie, thrift shop, or park. There is time, no matter what season of life you are in!

Take a moment to reflect

You may just be catching your breath after a crazy 2019. Catch it, dear! Breathe in and out, and set aside some time alone to reflect on this past year. You deserve to acknowledge all the successes and new strengths gained, and even the hard lessons learned! Whether you take a walk, grab a cup of tea or coffee, or you write in down in your journal, honor yourself and this past year before you move ahead.

If you need help, feel free to use these fun Best of 2019 prompts to get yourself started!

Take a moment to dream

Now that you’ve created some space in and around you, I encourage you to do a little dreaming over your next year! I like the thought of dreaming or setting intentions over making resolutions, as there is something less pressured about it, and I find that more authentic desires come out as a result. This time last year while I was dreaming over 2019, I kept hearing the word potential and it couldn’t have been more spot-on for what the year had in store. (Take a peek, it might help get your ideas flowing for 2020!)

Think about your family, finances, home, fun/travel, health, friendships, spiritual life, and business. Take a moment to dream over those things! Take a walk through the woods and find a place to sit awhile, take yourself out for a fancy coffee, or make a quiet space at home. Take a quiet moment, and make a list or create a visual board to be inspired by throughout the year!

Replace busyness with intentionality

There’s a temptation on January 1st to be “off to the races” - to fill up your calendar, make progress on all your goals before February, and to not fall behind. I speak from experience when I say that this leads to a lot of busy but not a lot always the real progress you want. Pace yourself and look at your calendar. What does intentionality look like in the things you will say yes and no to this month? How does that align with your dreams and goals for this year?

All of these things are on my list for January this year. In the words of Kacey Musgraves, I like a good slow burn, and I find that taking my time during transitions helps me to feel more grounded and to hear my true thoughts. You don’t have to compare your process or intentions with anyone else! I’ll be right there with you!

Let me know how I can encourage you this month! Is there anything you’re struggling with when making goals or setting intentions? Do you have anything you do each January to kick off the year well? Comment below!

Wishing you a beautiful, restful January, friend!

Sam

How To Have A GREAT January