Here’s the thing about January: we’re all supposed (?) to be becoming new people (?) despite the fact that it’s negative one million degrees outside and all my basic human instincts are telling me to hibernate and snack and grow my leg hair until it’s a blanket of warmth.
A couple weeks ago, I came across some social posts that really resonated. They spoke to the train of thought that humans are biologically programmed to be resting and recuperating at this time of year rather than trying to reinvent ourselves with a list of nineteen tenuously achievable goals. This tracks: of course I should be sleeping more and taking a walk in the scarce midday sun and snuggling and eating delicious seasonal produce. When I don’t do these things, I experience a consistent 4:30PM crisis of productivity, which looks like pacing and bemoaning and starting a lot of tasks I won’t finish. From an evolution standpoint, we aren’t designed to just power through the cold, dark winter months — we should be relaxing and rejuvenating ourselves for longer days to come.
I’ve also noticed some really helpful dialogue on social media this month surrounding the mad toxic diet culture-y bullshit that January always ushers in. As someone who experiences disordered eating and a fraught relationship with food, it’s difficult for me not to make eating-related goals. Choosing to follow people who call out diet culture rather than promote it is helpful; so are the two mouthwatering Ottolenghi cookbooks my partner bought me as a January present. Cooking my own food greatly helps to stave off my food-related anxieties. Side note: highly recommend January presents to combat seasonal depression. Christmas who?
On that note, I think many of us spend a good chunk of January experiencing what I’ve now come to think of as a holiday hangover. December always seems to end up jam-packed with FOOD and DRINKS and PARTIES and SPENDING MONEY and CELEBRATION and FAMILY TIME whether you LIKE IT or NOT. There’s a lot of pressure to participate in everything. If your holidays involved the nightmare that was travelling this year, perhaps you felt this anxiety compounded like I did: What if I don’t get home? What will I miss? Who will miss me?
It also seems nearly universal across professions that January is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a slow month. Deadlines hit like a ton of bricks when you’ve just spent the last three weeks swimming in a sea of cheese plates and mulled wine and fuzzy socks. Like everything about the current iteration of capitalism’s hellscape we’re living in, our work schedules don’t align with what would benefit our minds and bodies.
All this to say that I’m not a big New-Years-Resolutions gal. I do enjoy making a to-do list for experiences I’d like to have in a year (though the name “to-do list” suggests it’s much more serious than it actually is), if only for the reason that it’s fun to look at when I’m in a rut or need something to look forward to. I’ve managed to divorce this list from any guilt that might come from not checking something off. Highlights from last year’s list include “new tattoo” (check), “west coast road trip” (check), “make a baked brie” (no check!! Add to 2023 to-do list!!)
I hope you don’t need permission to spend your January the way you want to spend it, but in case you were looking for a nudge: You don’t have to do dry January. You don’t have to go to the gym. You don’t have to learn a new language. You don’t have to cut out sugar or carbs or any foods that bring you joy. You can keep hanging out on your couch and snuggling your furry creature under your blanket and trust that that’s enough to carry you through til warmer, brighter days. And finally, I’m sorry this nudge is 17 days late. It was January, after all.
Don’t make me cry. Okay do. Love you!
Every. Time. 🙌❤️