No strict diets, exercise regimes or goal setting – I’m having Gentle January this year
New year, new start, new you – January’s got a lot of pressure, hasn’t it? It’s the month where we’re apparently meant to race off with all the good intentions, and lots of motivation to eat better, move more, lose weight, get cracking on brand new work plans…on and on.
But January really isn’t geared up to be a month for brand new starts! It’s dark, cold and our ancestors would all have been embracing the longer nights and resting like the natural world around them, not rushing off into crazy new personal improvement plans…
Personally, I’m going to be lot less about pressure this January, and more about taking it slowly. I want some time to think about what I want out of the year to come, and not try to achieve it all now. If that sounds good to you too, you might like to take a similar approach, and get the year started at your own pace as well…here are a few gentle ways I’ll be tackling January and the darker months, without putting all that pressure on myself.
Vision Boards, Rest and Healing
I’m not diving into any fitness routines or strict diets. It’s winter, and my energy feels better suited to gentler things – and just noticing that instead of fighting it makes everything feel more achievable!
One thing I’m really looking forward to is the Vision Board workshop for life that I’ve booked in January. It’s not a hard‑core goal‑setting exercise, it’s more like a chance to dream and reflect about what I’d like the year to bring. I love the idea of exploring what I’d like more of, what I’m ready to let go of, and what might be quietly calling to me, without needing to have all the plans to do it in place just yet.
I’m also making time for rest and healing. We’re not all ready to go just because we’ve had a few days off at Christmas – in fact, for many of us, the Christmas ‘holidays’ are anything but! So I will be giving myself time to enjoy a bit of reiki, some meditation when it feels right, and exploring crystals.
When it comes to movement, I’m keeping things simple. Gentle walks, fresh air, my brilliant Women’s Walking Football Team (read more about that here: Women’s Walking Football with MK United) – and definitely no targets or tracking. Just getting outside, noticing the season changes, and letting my thoughts wander. Even a short stroll can give you a lift, especially on those grey January days – we all need whatever exposure to the daylight we can get!
Cosy Evenings and Future Plans
I’m making a conscious decision to enjoy the darker evenings rather than resent them. There’s something really comforting about slowing down – cosy nights, soft lighting, earlier bedtimes if needed.
In January I’m also making plans for things I’d love to do in 2026 – theatre trips, places to visit, other experiences I don’t want to keep putting off. Some of those plans might be solo, because I don’t want to wait for the ‘perfect time’ to do them. If I want to go to the theatre, or have a stroll round Blenheim Palace I’m going to go, even if it’s on my own – otherwise, those ideas will stay on the ‘one day’ list forever!
Don’t let the traditional “New Year, New You” expectations force you into doing things that don’t make you feel good this January – winter is hard enough without all that pressure and guilt. Be slower and quieter for a more gentle January if you feel like it, make time to breathe and come up with a few plans for the year, and take it all one day at a time – then when you’re feeling more ready, you’ll be able to achieve it all with even more energy and enthusiasm, on your own terms!
