What do all of you do in January? It’s a dreary month as a rule. Some probably say a let-down from the fast paced festive months beginning with Halloween in October, Thanksgiving in November, followed by the high energy Christmas holiday in December. How many of you are glad to see this month almost over?
January is supposed to be a time for reflection and resolution. A lot of us like to put off or avoid both of those philosophical deliberations.
So, tell me what you do in January.
I stock up on stacks of books. I’m partial to Harlequin because I like happy endings. I like stories that transport me out of the long, cold, grey days this month generally brings. January is the perfect month to curl up on the sofa, under a blanket, with a hot cup of coffee or chocolate and read uplifting stories that make me feel better.
Granted I can’t read all day every day even if it is what I like to do best. I make a point of dragging out the Wii-Fit and it sits there taunting me until I carve out some time to exercise. Walking is my exercise of choice, but I’m such a fair-weather walker it’s pathetic. Wii-Fit and Wii-Sport are cold-weather alternatives. I always also set up a puzzle right after Christmas decorations are taken down. If Santa doesn’t bring me books and puzzles, I buy them for myself. A piece here, a piece there as I go by the table, and soon the puzzle is complete. It’s an endeavor that leaves my mind free to wander and dream. Hopefully to think up new stories.
But, as January is seemingly longer than spring, summer and fall months when I can get out to walk or do yard work, what else do I find to fill my January days and evenings? A last resort is to clean my office. By year’s end my desk is piled high with papers and notes that need discarding or filing. Since I was blessed with a mother who instilled in me that each new year needs to start with a tidy slate, I take a week to discard, file and shred in my office until I can actually see the surface of my desk. And, oh my, it always needs dusting after that. With a clean desk I get around to correspondence. This is the month to catch up with people who sent me Christmas notes or letters. By now my month is drawing to a close. Okay, I read this blog over and mercy, but my January sounds boring. I hope you all chime in here with ideas and things you do from New Year’s Day to the next holiday we writers and women in general love–Valentine’s Day, so that when next January rolls around I’ll have a host of new exciting concepts to choose from.
What do all of you do in January? It’s a dreary month as a rule. Some probably say a let-down from the fast paced festive months beginning with Halloween in October, Thanksgiving in November, followed by the high energy Christmas holiday in December. How many of you are glad to see this month almost over?
45 comments:
I have been cleaning out all the accumulated detritus (husband and child are both amazing pack rats!) It has been great figuring out what can go out -- either passed on to others who can use it or in the trash (have tried to limit this as much as possible.) One of the first things I tackled was the enormous piles of books in our 'to read' area...I'm working my way through those and enjoying every second of it.
My favorite time of the year is September through December. Then comes January. I semi-hibernate, staying close to my nest on the sofa near the gas floor furnace in my living room. My cats stay close to me, and we nest together with our favorite old soft cotton quilt. I have lots of good reads, coffee and chocolate. Hoepfully, there will be something good on TV. I like to make soup and bread, both for nourishment and aromatherapy. I live in the mountains of VA, and January and February are now our coldest time of the year, also the time that we get the most snow. I do love to the mountains dusted with powdered sugar snow : )
I'm always reading so January my least favorite month is no different. A good romance makes me forget about the grey weather and it accompanying feelings of being overweight, worn out from Christmas and just downright gloomy. I also watch a lot of my favorite movies. Bake some simple breads cause nothing beats the smell of freshly baked whole meal bread. And burn a lot of candles for coziness. I try to remember that without the lows you can't recognize the highs of life.
Hi Roz! I thought your January sounded pretty perfect, but then I am a fan of puzzles and books.
I spend January watching way too many youth hockey games. That's a cooooold endeavor.
I keep my Christmas tree and my outdoor lights up during January. The tree is so beautiful, I always hate to see it go. By the time I take it all down, the days have gotten longer and I can tell we're definitely on the way to Spring!
Great to see you, Roz!
Roz, I loooove puzzles, too! Great way to pass the time. And books! Your January sounds perfect to me!
This afternoon, however, I'm going to take advantage of a bit of milder weather to head to a local skating rink. I haven't skated in years. I don't skate; I shuffle. I have no idea whether I can stay on my feet. I should have picked up elbow and knee pads...and maybe a huge bum pad!
Morning Roz! I can hardly believe January is almost come and gone :?
Hi, Roz!
I love January. The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years are always so hectic that I don't get as much writing done as I'd like. I love the holidays, love having my kids around, but I really like it when everything settles down and the house is quiet again and I can get back into my office.
Besides writing, it's the perfect time to curl up on the couch with a good book. And there are so many to choose from...including some wonderful Superromances.
Hey, Roz *g* I love your idea of setting up a puzzle. I think I'll try that and see if I can entice my girls to work on it with me.
So far my January has consisted of driving my daughters to various practices (indoor track for one, middle school volleyball for the other) as well as riding along while the older daughter learns to drive.
I'm not a fan of the cold or snow and since we get both here, I'm anxious for Spring to arrive. Unfortunately, that doesn't usually happen until Mid-April :-)
I hibernate and read my big TBR pile.
January isn't much different for me than the rest of the year that follows. I spend most of my days reading, heading for the post office to pick up my mail (I always hope for something good and not just bills), and getting out to walk for exercise (most of the time I walk at the mall and people watch).
January can be dreary. The holidays are over. The new year has begun but it brings with it loads of new expectations (or guilt over the realization of all that didn't get done the year before).
I think of January as a transition month. The year really doesn't begin for me until mid-month, maybe even February. I use January to start making small changes, to catch up on reading, to resume exercising, to think about but not necessarily plan out all that I want to do in the new year. By February 1st, I'm raring to go!
My January usually involves curling up with a good book in front of the fireplace while it snows outside! I love the snow and watching the birds at our feeders, but by the end of January I'm usually looking forward to spring.
This January I've been able to spend almost two weeks with my daughters in North Carolina. My oldest daughter just bought a condo so my younger daughter and I are helping her paint it and just generally having fun together! Now that my kids are grown and out of the house I don't get to see them too often so this January has been a treat for me.
Wow, I love all the comments. Skating sounds like fun, and mall walking. I love to people watch. I have relatives here right now and we're taking advantage of some sunshine to get out and see the sights. Keep the posts with your good ideas coming. Um, yum at the idea of the smell of fresh bread in the house. Roz
I don't think your January sounds boring! :) Reading is one of my favourite pastimes. We've got lots of birthdays in my family during January, so there's always a party going on! :)
Hi Roz, what a great January post, very much like the month, peaceful with a “sorting out the cave” kind of feeling—fosters thoughtfulness and puzzles. I like to spend January putting last year in some sort of order and hunkering down in the den with books or a project that involved needles. I might have to throw a puzzle into the mix. Thanks.
Roz,
About Dec 15th I've usually had it with the craziness of the holidays and I'm always looking forward to January because I get to do what I love - read or write. And it's cold and dreary and going outdoors is not all that appealing. Right now I could use an extra week in January. I'm so far behind on a deadline. Time is going too quickly.
Linda
January... a sigh of relief that the madness that comes with the holiday season is over for the year... wonder if they would consider doing Christmas every other year... another big SIGH because it means tax time is here again... I turn to getting all my tax papers together because of course I haven't done much during the year but throw things into a box! Last year, the State delayed refunds about 4 months due to lack of money. This year I just found out the IRS will be delaying refunds because of the tax bill that was passed mid-December. Apparently they need to update their computers. Of course if you owe them aything you better pay them on time!! So... I guess my January is sort of a mix of relief and anxiety. I do have to say though that I've been having some fun. I caught up on some reading and have been playing sudoku on my nook :) Oh yeah, I'm also in the process of cleaning the top of my desk. GOt the 3 foot piles down to abotu 1 1/2 feet now!!!
So January isn't slow for me. I work for an accountant so January means the start of the crazy tax season. We get to get everything together for year end and of course the printing out of W-2s and 1099s etc for all our clients. Its almost done but I still have to get through this weekend and Monday. Wish me luck!!
January for me, means a cozy fire since I hate the cold, plenty of romantic reading, and watching the Australian Open on TV and vicariously enjoying their sunshine.
In January, I read a lot more, sell Girl Scout cookies and do my taxes every year. (and an extra bonus - no Nascar racing here!!)
January ~ I usually get in a lot of snow shoveling as exercise and maybe some ice chopping. Mall walking is on the agenda. I like to buy birthday and anniversary cards for the entire year and get them organized. I read as well. The winter months usually have us doing a puzzle or two but not so far this year. My husband's birthday is in January so we usually do something nice to celebrate.
Hi Roz,
January is usually when I get to stop and take a breath. To squeeze in some reading and 'me' time and recover from the holidays. Although this year I haven't had a chance to take a break. But there are still a few days left in the month and I have a stack of novels waiting for me.
January is an easy month here thanks to the long warm days of Summer and school holidays for the whole month here in Australia. I can't believe it's nearly feb already.
=)
I am so sick of this weather it has snow all winter. January has been so cloudy and I just hope that Feburary is better.
I really don't mind January. It gives me time to recharge and tackle my TBR pile before
spring and gardening arrive.
We just had our seventh snow storm this month and it's becoming a drag. I am definitely ready for January to be over.
I always feel a little deflated in January--like I got side-swiped by the holidays and need a month to recover.
I'm just starting to feel energized again. I must be solar-powered because last week's fog really took a toll.
I don't have a Wii, but I do make myself walk every day--even the dreary ones. In fact, it's time for my walk right now.
Good to see you, my friend.
Deb
We're entering our hurricane and tropical cyclone season, so preparing for that.
Hi Roz, January in Australia is the middle of summer so we're busy with outdoor activities, bbqs, picnics, the pool, etc. Now if you'd asked me about July, it would sound pretty similar to your January. I like puzzles, too. And books, well they're year round.
I don't mind January. I grew up in a much colder state than I'm in now (in the US). So the winter days of January feel like home to me! (I'm miserable in the hot and heat of July and August, though!)
One of my favorite January activities is snow days with the kids. I love the excitement of having school cancelled. The fun of playing in the snow, hot chocolate, and unexpected time to play games and watch movies together.
I also enjoy recovering from the busy-ness of November and December holidays. January usually has more time just to *be*. To do nothing, or read, or sew, or whatever I want!
I have spent a lot of this month shoveling. This leaves me tired and only able to read and rest until the next storm hits us. When my whole body doesn't ache I am going to start organizing.
Ugh January. Cold. Snow. City taxes are due or else I get penalized.
It's also a month where the cold can trigger my asthma (I am still recovering - been sick since the 12th).
Been reading a lot of Supers when I stayed home and huddled under the blanket so that is the good part!
As some of the other Aussies have said, this is our outdoor time of year. So it's beach and bbq time for us.
I read a lot in January and visit blogs...like this one! Also, I walk outdoors WHEN weather is not rainy or snowy!
I like to stamp with your wonderful daughter, Korynna.
I've never been good at keeping up with walking. Especially during icky weather. This year I'm going to try to keep up with my incentive walking. I walk to Starbucks or Tully's to have a coffee/latte. However, I decided that it's time to add some distance to get a decent walk. My children and I are book lovers. I started putting books on hold at the local library and have begun walking to pick them up. It's only been two days and I can already feel the difference. Let's just see if I can keep it up. Of course, I would much rather be curled up on the couch reading a good book. Can't wait to see you next month. Keep those puzzles ready.
Hi Roz,
January is almost gone and spring is coming closer. I just stumbled across this blog and of course I am a day late.
Gail
Hi Roz,
I find January sunshine in Tucson is invigorating - glad I no longer have the dreary endurance contest of the mid-west. I don't have great suggestions for fun activities. I am trying to clean out my work spaces- the office at work is looking better. Now I need to get on a schedule to organize my workspace at home. So far only limited success at that.
Sorry I didn't get back again yesterday. Thanks to everyone who chimed in with such great suggestions on how to get through January.
Hi Roz,
I set up my table for income tax prep. (I like to get it out by the end of February. Write. Water my winter garden. Walk four days a week with Phyllis, and exercise with machines the other three days.
Hi Roz, I had a terrific January, spent mostly in Whistler, BC skiing. My sister married a Canadian and we had a family reunion. Course, now I'm home...and planning another trip back in two years.
Karina
I've spent this January getting myself organised, mainly with my writing! Last year I got very distracted chasing my own tail and pouring energy into a lot of stuff that wasn't ever going to help me reach my long term goals. So this January, I did not one but two workshops incorporating goalsetting and time management. Okay, doing two was a symptom of bad goalsetting and time management! But I feel I've got the year off to a good start with realistic goals, plans for how to meet them, and building in good habits.
Sadly, I haven't dented my TBR pile at all, only added to it with a whole pile more Supers!
Hey, Karina, I spent one summer vacation at Whistler. Loved, loved, loved it. It was for a nephew's 21st birthday and our family rented a condo on the square. It had a hot tub and a loft and there was so much to do. I recall we rode bikes, hiked and there was a dance the young folks attended on Saturday night. But, I don't know about going there in the snow. Brrr
I love reading, going on the innternet and doing crossword puzzles.By the way, what happened to the Superauthors contest on Noveltalk.com?
GloriaDeal@aol.com
Well better late than never.... what do I do in January? I recover from December! I can finally breath and give MYSELF some ME time.... not that I do resolutions, bu it do try to refocus on what is most important to me and get back on track. I did more knitting and crocheting in January, tried to focus more on my health (again). January isn't usually a busy month for me or the most exciting, but it's a welcome month nonetheless.
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