The Joy of January: How to Winter the Right Way (and Stop Quitting on Yourself)
The Joy of January: How to Winter the Right Way (and Stop Quitting on Yourself)
A January well spent brings a year of content.
January gets a bad reputation — and honestly, I get why.
It’s the month of Divorce Day, Quitter’s Day, and Blue Monday.
The month where we’re told we’ll be:
• Depressed as fuck
• Breaking up with our husbands
• Quitting our hopes, dreams, and resolutions
What a treat.
But what if January isn’t the problem?
What if we’re just doing January all wrong?
In this episode of the podcast, The Joy of January, I share why I’ve had a long love–hate relationship with winter, how learning about seasonal living and wintering changed everything for me, and the exact winter wellness hacks that now help me feel calm, cosy, productive and hopeful — instead of miserable and burnt out.
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Quitter’s Day, Blue Monday & the January Myth
Let’s start with the infamous dates:
• Divorce Day – 4th January
• Quitter’s Day – the second Friday of January (9th this year)
• Blue Monday – the third Monday of January (20th this year)
According to the internet, January is the month where:
• You quit your goals
• You quit your relationship
• You quit on life
And honestly? No wonder. We’re trying to live like it’s June… while it’s dark at 4pm and our nervous systems are screaming for a nap.
But here’s the truth: January isn’t meant for massive output.
It’s meant for wintering.
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What Is “Wintering” (and Why Your Body Is Begging for It)
Humans don’t hibernate — but we do experience something very close.
Wintering is a natural seasonal phase of:
• Lower energy
• Increased need for rest
• Reflection and withdrawal
• Turning inward
Historically, winter meant:
• Less daylight
• Less food
• Less movement
• More sleep
• More time indoors
Our bodies still respond to those cues, even if modern life pretends we shouldn’t.
In animals, this looks like torpor — a lighter form of hibernation where metabolism slows and energy is conserved.
In humans, it shows up as:
• Lower motivation (February me always thinks I hate my job)
• Needing more sleep (epic Christmas naps, anyone?)
• Less social appetite (“get the fuck away from me”)
• Craving warmth and comfort (heated blanket, hello)
• Slower mental and physical pace
This isn’t laziness.
It’s biology.
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Hormones, Light & Why January Hits So Hard
Winter messes with us because of light — or lack of it.
In winter:
• Melatonin (sleep hormone) increases
• Serotonin often drops
• Vitamin D drops
• Circadian rhythms shift
This can create:
• Fatigue
• Lower mood
• Reduced drive
For some people, this becomes Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
For many others, it’s simply seasonal slowing, not a mental health crisis.
The problem isn’t winter.
The problem is expecting summer productivity all year round.
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My Winter Wellness Philosophy (After Going Too Far the Other Way)
When I first learned about seasonal living, I went too deep.
I wrapped up and did absolutely nothing for 3–4 months… and honestly?
That made me worse.
Now I’ve found the sweet spot — and these are the wintering hacks that genuinely work.
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1. Light: Your Non-Negotiable Winter Medicine
Lack of light is the number one driver of SAD, so we have to be intentional.
✔ Natural daylight
• Especially morning light (when it’s actually there)
• Get outside every day, even briefly
✔ Bright light therapy
• 10,000 lux
• White or full-spectrum light
• Use within 30–60 minutes of waking
• 20–30 minutes daily
This is hands down the most effective tool I use in winter.
I’ve linked the exact one I use in the show notes and on my Amazon storefront.
✔ Controversial but honest: the occasional sun bed
Not to tan — but for:
• Endorphins
• Vitamin D
• Mood
I love it. Judge me quietly.
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2. Heat: Stay Warm or Be Miserable
Bitch, you have to stay warm.
If I’m cold, I’m miserable. Even my dog’s wearing a turtleneck.
My winter uniform:
• UGGs / slag wellies
• Barbour coat
• Big fleecy jumper
• Leggings
• Zero frills
Winter heat heroes:
• Heated blanket (Dreamland — linked below)
• Hot water bottle (why did we ever stop?)
• Hot baths with dim lights, candles, magnesium flakes and a podcast
• Sauna (I am now a full sauna bitch)
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Why I’m Obsessed With Saunas (and You Should Be Too)
Regular sauna use is linked to:
• Lower stress and cortisol
• Better mood and emotional regulation
• Improved circulation and heart health
• Muscle recovery and pain relief
• Better sleep
• Increased resilience (hormesis)
Some studies even link frequent sauna use to lower rates of Alzheimer’s.
For me, it’s not just physical — it’s:
• Stillness
• Reflection
• Mental clarity
I wash off deodorant beforehand, protect my hair, remove jewellery — and sweat it out properly.
Get sauna-ing wherever and whenever you can.
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3. Feather Your Nest
Winter is not the time to overhaul your life.
It’s the time to make it cosy.
• Cosy movie nights
• TV marathons
• Books in bed
• Early nights
• Saying no to plans
I’ve been loving Wintering by Katherine May (linked below).
Let winter be quiet without making it a problem.
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4. Plan for Better Days
Winter is also a gestation period.
This is when you:
• Book holidays
• Plan trips and festivals
• Do the boring life admin (dentist, optician, etc.)
• Lay foundations for spring
I LIVE for winter sun holidays.
There is nothing better than being smug on a beach while everyone else is freezing.
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5. Don’t Over-Winter: Take Mini Breaks
Embrace winter — but don’t disappear into it.
What helps me:
• A packed weekend in London
• Social plans for a few days
• A short holiday
Enough to remind me life still exists — without exhausting me.
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Why January Is Actually Powerful
January isn’t for reinvention.
It’s for root-building.
When you honour winter:
• Spring feels clearer
• Goals feel aligned
• Energy returns naturally
• You don’t burn out before March
Winter → Spring
Rest → Renewal
Stillness → Growth
Winter the right way, and come spring you’ll kick the door open on life again.
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Want to Go Deeper?
✨ I’ve created a full Winter Wellness List on my Amazon storefront
✨ Join me for Step Into Abundance — a 2-week challenge combining:
• Gentle movement
• Walking
• Manifestation
• Energy alignment
Because abundance doesn’t come from forcing —
It comes from listening to your season.