7 Ways to Embrace January

January. It's always been a month I feel pity towards, if you can feel such a thing towards a period of time. But never the less, I do. I pity the rush that is felt so ardently throughout the month, the eagerness to get Winter over and done with and move onto the next thing. For me, January seems to be the only month where time seems to pass by slowly, the only month where I don't hear myself endlessly muttering "where has the day gone?". January is a gentle month, slow and drawn out that tenderly nudges us into the new year.

As an ode to January, I've composed a small list of seven ways to embrace the month.

A Cosy Cafe Crawl

Make a list. A list of all your favourite coffee spots. Then gather your friends or a few good books, and take your time walking from coffee shop to coffee shop. Take note of the bare bark of trees, the numbness of your fingers that are warmed only when you wrap them around a steaming mug of coffee.

Go the extra mile and only visit independent coffee shops and support your local businesses.

Take a Walk

Wrap up. Grab a friend. Head out. Abandon your phone and really take your time. It doesn't really matter where you are heading. You might decide to spend the day wandering around the countryside, on the beach or around your hometown. The important bit is just getting outside and enjoying the season. 

Seasonal Eating

Cook up a hefty pot of wintery soup, leek and potato is always a firm favourite, and pair it with warm crusty bread slathered in butter. Invite friends and family around and make a meal of it. Eat around the table, light candles and enjoy eating a homecooked meal with the people you love. 

Have a no TV night 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with spending the evening in front of the tv, it is most definitely a way to switch off and wind down from the day. But how about dedicating one night a week to not having the tv on at all. Instead, you could play games, have a good natter, read a book or even listen to the radio. Check out Radio 4 extra, they always have some really wonderful stuff to listen to. 

Bake

It's that time of year where our eyes and minds are bombarded with diets, gym memberships and all things weight loss, and it all feels rather suffocating. Bake. Block it all out. Tell the diet industry to get stuffed, take a stand and bake something delicious. Something sweet and seasonal.

Become a Hygge Expert 

Pinterest. Instagram. Youtube. Find all you can about Hygge (Hu-guh), the Danish ritual of enjoying life's simple pleasures. Become engrossed by the sheer cosiness of it all. Make notes on all that you learn, dedicate a Pinterest board to the movement and think of ways you can implement hygge into your everyday life. 

Have an Indulgent Bubble Bath 

Bath Salts. Dried Flowers. Candles. Gather all you need to create a relaxing atmosphere. Nourish your skin with essential oils and scrubs, add a handful of green tea bags to relax your body and give your skin a mineral boost. Read your favourite book or just sit and soak in complete silence, all by candlelight. 

Take the time to slow down and indulge in these last few moments of Winter before Spring beckons its retreat.