The Winter Reset: Part 1
January often gets a bad reputation. I’ve heard it called a month of Mondays. Funny — but I don’t really agree. If that were the case, July would be hump day (and at least here in the Midwest, July is EPIC).
Instead, I see January as an invitation to slow down, get back to basics, and gently set the tone for the year ahead.
As much as I love the warmth and sparkle of the holiday season — the decorations, family gatherings, parties, and food — I love taking it all down almost as much. When everything is packed away, my home feels lighter. Quieter. Like the bare trees outside, January brings a kind of beautiful simplicity that gives me room to breathe.
January is also a time for taking inventory. At home and at work, it’s a pause — a chance to look around and see what needs attention. And yes, I have lists. To-do lists, wish lists, and goal lists. 😊 There’s something comforting about starting the year with clarity and intention.
At work, December is filled with production and preparation. By January, it feels good to clean out files, organize drawers, and start fresh. I’ve said this so many times over the years that now my husband teases me by repeating it back while we work — and every time, it makes me smile. I love that feeling of completion and possibility.
My home follows the same rhythm. Drawers are cleaned out, closets are refreshed, and anything that can be washed usually is. January isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing less, but doing it intentionally.
After our children and grandchildren headed back to school and work last weekend, I turned my attention to the bedrooms. Holiday duvet covers came off and were washed. Pillows were refreshed. The rooms were stripped back to their essentials. Sometimes I put a duvet back on, but often I leave it off and enjoy the simplicity of natural bedding. A throw at the foot of the bed, maybe a few pillows — nothing more.
There’s something about sleeping in clean, natural bedding during the quiet of winter that just feels right. It feels clean. It feels fresh. And it feels deeply comforting.
So if January feels heavy or dull to you, I challenge you to see it differently. Let it be a season of rest, renewal, and simplicity. A time to start clean, slow down, and find comfort in the small, everyday moments of a brand-new year.