5 Things Friday - Beating the January Blues
5 easy-to-achieve activities to spark some joy and get you through January
First up, a warm welcome to all the new subscribers who signed up this week. I had a little flurry of people taking up the discount offer on the 1st January, and it’s really lovely to start the new year with you all here! I like to encouage everyone to be vocal on here, so please make use of the comment section and chat.
So how are we feeling about 2025? New Year… New You? I think we’ve already established I’m not one for making January any harder than it needs to be! So, while the rest of the internet is giving advice for restricting calories (I still have a mountain of cheese in the fridge), planning your first early morning run of 2025 (but it’s cold and dark outside and my bed is sooo cosy) and doing Dry January (er NO thank you), I'm here to give you 5 positive ways to start January that don’t require squeezing yourself into leggings or depriving yourself of the last Quality Street.
1. Have a Mini Clear-out… Start Small
Have you made a start on that new year checklist I shared on New Year’s Day? No, me neither, but why not start small with a mini clear-out, and refresh your makeup bag? Small achievable things can give me joy, but they are usually the tasks that I look at every day and never get around to. I rarely remember to wash my makeup brushes (shameful I know), so it seems sensible to get that done while I delve into what else I’m squirrelling away in the depths of my makeup bag. I usually change my makeup a little at this time of year too - a little less sparkly! I’m looking for a more natural look, plus any late summer tan is long gone so I need some extra help to get that new year glow. A trip to John Lewis, and a chat with a helpful assistant, resulted in a new bronzer stick and a lipstick!
As I’ve got older I’ve completely stopped using any powders on my face. I feel like it takes away the natural glow of my skin, which is the last thing I want, but the Too Faced Melting and Sculpturing bronzer stick (shade chocolate caramel) is perfect for a natural looking healthy glow. I also wanted some colour for my lips, but a little less intense than my usual party red, so the Trinny London Just Joyus lip range, which gives intense moisture (essential in winter!) and a glossy sheen, was perfect. I went for Poppy; a lovely everyday red. I also change up my foundation at this time of year and have gone back to a favourite, Trish McEvoy Gorgeous, which I feel gives more coverage than my favourite Jones Road (currently 20% off). I can also recommend her Instant Eye Lift, which works miracles on the dark circles - this time of year really does hit hard! So, have a little clear-out, clean those brushes and maybe try a new shade of lippy and you’ll feel way better than after a week on cabbage soup! If you need any help with makeup decisions, this previous newsletter will give all the advice!
2. Have a Home Spa Day
Okay, maybe a day might be a little unachievable, but a few hours of self-care would be perfect. We finally got our bathroom finished. That two-week job ended up taking just under five weeks, but we got there in the end - and just before Christmas, thank goodness. Since then, there has been nothing more joyous to me over the craziness of the Christmas period than locking myself away for an hour soaking in a hot tub and listening to a podcast. I’ve been enjoying this one.
I usually start with a dry skin brush which helps shed the dry winter skin, then either my new favourite face mask or hair mask. Someone usually buys me a bottle of Neom’s Perfect Night's Sleep Bath Foam for Christmas, and this year the husband did just that. After a long soak, I smother myself in body cream (love this one from Rituals) and have 15 minutes on my bed with my LED facemask or, my favourite Christmas present, the Shiatsu Portable Neck Massager. Absolute bliss!