How I’m Entering 2023

Not sure about you, but this year, the holidays hit me hard. Of course, there was the usual buying, wrapping, decorating, cooking, baking, and entertaining… but also, this year, we roadtripped to Iowa for Christmas and flew to Florida for New Years. With our precious six-month-old baby.

As grateful as I am to spend time with family and friends, I cannot deny it was a bit chaotic (especially with the weather issues and flight cancellations). It was joyous, but chaotic.

We got back from our FL trip yesterday, and I told myself I would sit down and play catch-up with my own desires and ambitions as we begin the new year.

You know, new year goal-setting type of thing.

So what did I do? I got up at 4am this morning (before baby got up), whipped out my journal, and attempted to catch-up with myself.

Yet, sitting with a journal and jotting down my own desires, ambitions, and goals suddenly felt counterproductive to my desire to catch-up with myself. I felt more chaos, really; like I was planning, scheming, and running, rather than catching up to myself and simply being.

No doubt, there are things I’d like to do this year… but really, at the top of my list, my priority is to relax more. To take things less seriously. To simply be.

I’ve decided January is my time to slow down, not speed up. To clear space, not fill it.

Some things I’m doing this month:

Heat/sauna therapy (actually typing this from my infrared sauna blanket)

Long walks, yoga, and gentle movement

Eat seasonal, warm, healing foods (love a good soup)

Consuming less information/content and practicing firmer boundaries

Bath products that ignite a tranquil sensory experience

A cleared January schedule — no deadlines or commitments to brands

Clearing space by donating/selling unused items (a Postmark sale coming)

Spa services — lots of massage booked this month

Sipping teas (warm ginger + cleansing citrus)

Going deeper, not wider, with my work; taking notes and reflecting on simple concepts that inspire me.

Resting while Kennedy naps, without judgment of being unproductive

And with that, leaning into the cozy aspects of January: warm blankets, heavy plush socks, warming candles.