January isn’t the most exciting of months on the calendar. It’s dark and cold and post-holidays so we wouldn’t blame you if your enthusiasm fizzles for this particular month. Especially if you spent December glammed up every weekend toasting with family and friends and trying out all the wonderful food the holidays are known for. And, you might be dreading the credit card bills that come with holiday shopping and traveling… we feel your pain! Since it’s impossible to pull a Rip Van Winkle to get through it, we challenged ourselves to come up with at least 8 reasons to love about this month. Check it out… January just might glow a little warmer in your heart!

1. Fresh Start – With December behind you, so is the whole of 2019. Welcome 2020 and all the excitement it will bring: new vacations, new body, new mind-set!  Not to be cliché but a new year brings a “new you” with a chance to hit the refresh button on bad habits and negative thinking more than any other time during the year. Embrace the new year, the new decade, and be the best version of “you” in 2020.
2. January is National Tea Month – And it’s a perfect month for drinking tea!  If you’re trying Dry January, then a hot cup of tea will be a great substitute beverage. When choosing tea, loose leaf is more flavorful and won’t contain microplastics like tea bags (as we wrote about in our plastics blog) and don’t worry, it’s easy to brew the perfect cup every time. And all the exotic new flavors… smoked mango oolong, pistachio lime yerba mate, salted caramel (okay, not all tea flavors should exist!) There are so many benefits to drinking tea you might just find yourself embracing it all year. Raise a mug to healthy habits!
3. It’s also National Soup Month – Pea, tomato, lentil, black bean, clam, corn or fish chowders, vegetable, chicken noodle… just a shortlist of the soups you can and should celebrate with this month. There are more soup recipes than there are days in January so pick the best ones and get cooking… Need a winter recipe idea? Try a fabulous French onion soup with a Normandy twist using a little hard cider from our Soup blog to get started.
4. Embrace the downtime – If December has you partied out then throw on something cozy and plan some me-time in January. It’s time to attack your reading list in front of the fire or draw yourself a hot bath with some soothing background music. Practice some Hygge and enjoy life’s simpler pleasures with a cozy mug of hot chocolate, Gingerbread latte or Sleepy Time Spiced Apple Cider. We’ve got plenty more ideas in our self-care blog post.  So recharge those batteries!
5. Focus on Health – You don’t have to make a New Year’s resolution to make a healthier you! Since January is a much quieter month, use the time to focus on better habits. If December had you rushing or skipping meals (or more likely eating holiday cookies and calling it lunch!) then slow down. Plan healthy meals throughout the month and shop what’s on the list. If exercise fell by the wayside, schedule workouts, stream some great playlists and get back in the groove.
6. Enjoy the quiet – If your ears are still tinkling with jingle bells then be thankful for the quiet of January. January is actually a perfect time for a hike. The trails are definitely less crowded and you won’t need as much bug repellant if any. Get away from the bustle of the city and find out how quiet the forest can be with a fresh blanket of snow.
7. Post-Christmas Sales – Now that the gift-giving season is over, gift yourself and enjoy the post-holiday savings!
8. Winter Food – It’s all about comfort! Close your eyes and think about a warm kitchen, the smell of a hearty stew and bread baking in the oven… Now get started! You can’t (and don’t want to) do that in July!

So, take that February, March, April and all you other months! We’ve got everything to love right here in January! Happy New Year and see you in the next blog!

Deb Fries is a freelance designer and writer, she worked for Julianna Rae in graphics and customer service and now writes lifestyle pieces for the blog at juliannarae.com/blog.