Tips & Trick

January bucket list + FREE journaling prompts downloadable template

I think we can all agree that 2020 was THE most curious year, and that we’re all pretty much happy it’s over. Not that it has to do with the year changing, or that there was ever a need to wait until 2021 to start anew, but it’s sure great to feel like starting with a clean slate.

January is always a bit of an odd month – usually we’re actually pretty tired after all the festivities, restlessly visiting friends & family, going for big shopping trips – whether that’s food or presents – and attending Christmas party after Christmas party, however, 2020 was definitely different in that light also.

Some of us didn’t get to spend Christmas with loved ones, or as many of them as we normally do so. Some of us have families living abroad, and travel was potentially not an option for you this time around. So we want to help you embrace January 2021, a January very different to any other ‘fresh starts’ with a little list we created to help you get centered, refreshed, focused and ready for a much better year ahead.

 

ย ๐Ÿ‘‡ย At the end of this post, you can also download the FREE Journaling Prompt PDF we’ve created for you to kick off the New Year with the best mindset!ย ๐Ÿ‘‡

 

Buy a new planner

Lots of things actually require more careful planning than before. Once lockdown restrictions start lifting around the world, life will slowly start to return to a new normal. And what’s a better thing to do than getting started with a new planner? You may have had to completely ditch last year’s calendar planner, as things definitely did not go as planned. But one thing I’m sure you’ve noticed: friends and family has become increasingly more important. So a great thing to do is set some dates with those people you haven’t seen before. Even if these dates and meetings are for your peace of mind: to feel like you’ll have something to do, something to look forward to, even if those dates may need to be rescheduled. Planners also come in handy if you want to record important dates: birthdays, anniversaries, upcoming nuptials so you can plan gifts, calls and meetings (even on Zoom).

Clean out your pantry

This year should be the one where we all start making sustainable, long-lasting changes to look after our planet. A pantry clean out is not only a great, therapeutic way to organise your essentials, but is a great opportunity to introduce new, green practices and to help you adjust your lifestyle choices, build a stock of non-perishables or implement new storage systems. You may have seen Netflix’s The Home Editย (if you haven’t yet, it’s a great binge, so satisfying!) where they organise things in a super neat and beautiful way. So get a labelling machine, some storage jars and clear containers and let’s get organising!

Embrace “hygge”

I think we reach for this tool without even noticing we’re doing it: the soft blankets, candle light, stews in slow cookers, togetherness, showing gratitude. Just a few small ways to ’embrace hygge’ in your life. Another tip we’d like to add is wash your clothes with ‘fresh linen’ laundry detergent for that added scent of clean house, and light a cotton-scented candle to feel like you’re relaxing on an actual cloud.

Knit a scarf or a blanket

Knitting is super therapeutic and the final product makes a super gift! As the soft yarn slides through your fingers, all you can focus on is your stitches which will make this a great meditation practice, too. Watch your breath, put some calming music on and voila: homemade meditation session, ready to go. You don’t have to be an expert knitter either, you can get away with a super simple design as long as you keep doing it and keep being present.

Bake something sweet for someone you love

It’s a great way to make your kitchen warmer, the house smell like cookies, and a person who receives your baked goods, happy, as a present. Brownies can go through the post these days, all you have to do is get a smaller box that fits through the letterbox for a touch-free, happy moment. Lucky enough to be able to see each other in person? Even better! Put the kettle on and brew a big cup of delicious tea, or better yet, combine this experience with the hygge point above: use one of our large teapots to enjoy a long afternoon with candles, warm tea and brownies.

Try going vegan – for a day, a week, a month #veganuary

Vegan alternatives are now everywhere: there’s vegan butter, vegan mayo, plant-based milk and Quorn so there’s really no excuse to not give this a try. It’s so good for the environment and has amazing health benefits, too! It doesn’t mean that you have to give up indulgent foods, either: Youtube is full of cheap, vegan recipes you can try that don’t particularly require any fancy equipment or outrageous ingredients. Go simple, cheap, veganise your favourites and you’ll see: Veganuary might actually turn into something you do on a regular basis.

Try bullet journaling

If you don’t want to go by the standard diary format and you’d like something a bit more personalised, you could try bullet journaling. Now, don’t be intimidated by the hundreds of thousands of artistic-looking, amazing, colourful bullet journals out there. We each have our own style and preferences, and so those carefully drawn one-page nature scenes next to the ‘pick up dry cleaning’ entry might not be for you.

I would first recommend you watch the original Bullet Journal’s Youtube video on How to Bullet Journal, which will give you a great idea on how to start. There’s also a great ‘learn’ page on their website that should explain and will have an answer to all your questions. And what’s even better, is that you’re never too late to start – as your journal’s pages will be numbered, but not dated, you can literally pick up this mindfulness habit – yes, bullet journaling is after all, a mindfulness practice, not just productivity practice – anytime throughout the year.

Better yet, you can use your bullet journal as part diary- part journal:

with our FREE Downloadable January Journaling Prompts

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Will you try any of the above? Let us know in the comments!

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