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May I be the first to welcome you into this new year. Brimming with possibilities and teeming with hope.

In these grey, winter days there is little to do but carry-on. We rise, we work, we eat, we sleep. It can get you down, especially after the height of the holidays. However, by arming ourselves with a few not-really-secret-at-all secret weapons, we can turn that winter funk around.

You have already heard me gush over this little thing I like to call Intentional Living, so I’ll bypass the soapbox and get straight to the point. The world has given us blah days, but we can use our very own sort of pixie dust to cover that blah in a bit of reasonable, subtle bling. Yes, by ‘bling’ I probably mean butter, it’s a new year, not a new blog. ;) Here are a few tips I have contrived and applied that can make each “normal” day something memorable.

Let’s begin at the beginning.

RISE. Set your alarm early enough to give you ample time to get ready for the work day and out of the door. Whatever your ideal routine, make time for it. Do not force yourself into one of those situations where you have to choose between ironing your shirt or taking your fur baby out for her open air restroom visit (I’m talking to myself here.). I have found this to be so helpful in my own life because not only does it allow me to do all the things I need to do each morning, it helps me walk out of the door, or into my home office, with my thoughts and belongings gathered and starts my day off on a calm, organized note, rather than having frizzy hair and frazzled thoughts.

WORK. While each situation will vary greatly, we might share some commonalities. If you have a problem setting boundaries for yourself (hello, me!), be sure to set reminders on your phone or computer for lunch breaks, and afternoon coffee/tea breaks. Not only to these little retreats allow you to eat (yes, kind of important), they also give your brain a little moment to rest and reconnect, which will help you stay productive!!

EAT. Here’s the fun part. During the weeknights, there is often not a whole lot going on. Evening walks or patio dinners are not an option for most of us this time of year, and with the cold, rain, and early nightfall, it can be hard to bolster up motivation for anything besides opening a bag of chips and turning on Hulu. (Yep, I’m guilty!) . But! Dinner is actually the perfect time to add a little pizazz to your day! Pick a fun recipe (oh hey, I’ve got a few of those listed above ;) ), and whip it up with the help of a friend, or get your handsome husband to turn on a favorite record and toss the salad while you put the finishing touches on a brand new dish. Oh, and try eating at a table, rather than on the couch. It is far more special than take-out, and most likely, a whole lot better for your body! Making a delicious dinner, even a simple one, gives you a sense of accomplishment too, which helps when you find yourself stuck in the mire of routine.

SLEEP. I never have a hard time sleeping in winter because the dreary weather seems to make sleep my default setting, but to further invest in the overall interest of daily life, try to do something that matters to you just before bed. Spend a few minutes with this app to help yourself relax, put that pretty journal to good use, or begin working through that reading list you just made.

These are just a few tiny ways to brighten up the dark days of January, to breathe warmth upon the frost, to cheer your heart. Sure, it’s still a routine, because that is most of life for most of us, but we can polka-dot it with color, and a few tiny moments of newness and adventure.

Happy, happy new year! Thank you again for living this past year with me, I cannot wait to see what we cook up in 2019!

Sincerely,

Pedantic Foodie