January can be a tough month. Many of us are feeling the financial pinch after the festive excesses and if you’re at home with a baby or toddler you may miss having the company of the family friends after the constant socialising during the holidays.
Another reason people feel down this month is the pressure to make New Year’s resolutions that inevitably fall by the wayside in the first week of the month, leaving you feeling like a failure.
If the above sounds like you, the good news is there’s plenty you can do to make January a happier month.
Keep the changes small
If you set out to give your life a new year overhaul on January 1 only to ‘fail' by January 6, take heart. The likelihood is that your goals were unrealistic and perhaps even unnecessary.
If you have to give something up, why not let go of the idea of being a perfect person and a perfect parent? Instead embrace ‘failures’ as learning experiences. Figure out why you wanted to change in the first place. Was it the pressure to be perfect or did you genuinely feel you’d benefit from doing something differently?
If you do want to make some positive changes, set some small and easy intentions. If you want to create more me you time, try giving yourself just 10 mins a day of peace and quiet. This could mean getting up slightly early to drink a cup of tea before the little ones wake up. Or you could try to say no to one thing a week that will free up your time to do what you really want.
If you want to be more eco-friendly, try switching to plastic free baby wipes or swapping just one car journey with a walk.
Hello hygge
Hygge is a Danish word that describes a Scandinavian concept of cosiness and contentment that comes from enjoying life's simple pleasures. Winter is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it is an opportunity to enjoy a simpler, slower life.
Small things like cosy blankets and twinkling candles can make your home look warm and inviting, instead of stark, once the Christmas decorations are down. If you have a small baby, don’t feel guilty about doing nothing but bundling up and enjoying snuggling time. If you have older toddler, why not make a cosy ‘den’ for them with cushions and blankets, where you can enjoy story time.
Move your body
Although it’s great to cosy up indoors, we get that toddlers, older kids and adults alike need to burn off some energy. Being outdoors in nature is a proven mood booster and bracing winter walks might be just what you need to blow the cobwebs off. If the weather is cold where you are, wrap up warm and look for short, fun walks will keep the little ones entertained as you all get some fresh air.
If you really don’t fancy face facing the weather and heading out, think of fun ways to move indoors with your kids. This could involve dancing, yoga, games of hide and seek.
Stay connected
Keep in touch with family and friends, especially those with children. If you’re all feeling broke after Christmas, take turns to invite each other around for playdates, games nights and homecooked meals or go for a walk together to give you all a mood boost.
We hope this has been helpful. Remember, winter can be a wonderful time to rest and replenish your energy levels for the brighter months. After all, spring is only just around the corner.
If you’re feeling really down if could be that you’re suffering from something more serious than simply the winter blues. If this is the case, don’t hesitate to talk to your healthcare professional.
