Here we are.

I was just writing out my first client agenda for the new year. At the top of every agenda I share a little monthly reflection. Maybe it’s a mantra, but it feels more like a statement, a reflection, a series of thoughts to keep on the simmer for the month. And I know taking January slowly has become a bit of trend lately - instead of pushing to set new goals or rushing to get your new schedule or routine set, people are just taking it slow. This trend is a train I too have been taking lately.

With the Holiday Season being as full as it always is, I find this month to be a really nice invitation to calm the heck down. We are in full on Winter in New Hampshire, so it’s a great time to stack the books higher, make more cocoa, add to my watch list on Netflix, and let whatever inspirations and motivations come to me to come as they are, when they’re ready. I’m not forcing a thing. I’m not even journaling about it, I’m just living into it.

By living into it here’s what I’ve realized:

1.) The inspiration still comes. I’ve been inspired to wake up earlier, when it feels right and do-able, so I can open up more time in my day while my son naps. I’ve been inspired to start journaling regularly again! I invested in a gratitude journal from Papier (it’s my favorite one, I’ve done it before and I’ve gifted it OFTEN), because I know it’s the perfect slow roll into journaling again. I’ve been reminded that my body and brain needs yoga, so I’ve added that back into my weekly exercise routine. I also wanted to get some things off of my phone, like addresses. I bought an address book, and honestly the joy it brought me to have that beauty arrive in the mail is hilarious. Who gets excited to fill out an address book? Me, I guess. Something just feels old school, cozy, and nice about it. Kind of how I feel about phone books - which don’t exist anymore, but remember when they did? Ah. Nostalgia.

2.) Every second, minute, hour, day, week, month is ALSO a chance to create or embrace change. Yes, January welcomes the New Year and a new year is a BIG deal. A year is a BIG chunk of time, but it’s not my only chance to create change. I find January to be a great time to reflect on the year, reflect on myself, and see what new inspirations come up (see above.).

3.) My words for 2026 still came around to me, without journaling or digging, they just kind of floated in. My first is: Simplify. Phewwwwwwwwwww this is a doozy. Basically, reminding myself that some things in life don’t have to be as hard or difficult or stressful as I make them. Some ways that I’m simplifying: Being OK with the fact that having a weekly meal plan that repeats recipes is OK (Monday: Pasta, Tuesday: Taco Bowls, Wednesday: Fish, etc.). When my little is having a tantrum, it can be very stressful for me too - the screaming, the crying, the body flailing - , so I’m trying to remind myself that in these moments neither of us have the answer and I probably can’t fix it, but I can give him a hug, provide space, and let time do it’s thing. Creating a weekly schedule for myself and son on Sundays - this includes errands, chores, phone calls to family or friends, etc. I know in the immediate this sounds like a lot of work or dare I say over-planning, but it actually really calms my brain to create our weekly calendar and have a plan (yes, I’m that person who likes an itinerary for travel). With a toddler who likes to stay busy, I find having things to do or make or create is a key to our days and time together. The last example I have is kind of funny. I made holiday cards back in December, they were delivered I think on the 17th. The holiday break got the best of me, and well after the New Year I rediscovered the box of lovely cards that I had stashed in my closet, so our guests didn’t see them. I could’ve spiraled, gotten down on myself, said what a waste of money and thrown them out, but you know what? It’s not that big of a deal. I decided to send them anyway. Are they almost a month late? Sure. But who cares? What I love about holiday cards has nothing to do with them arriving on time, and everything to do with seeing and reading updates from my friends and family. Those are just a few examples. My second word is: Cultivate - to focus on nurturing personal growth. To remind myself that I’m growing and learning under it all and on top of it all, I’m learning a lot and I’m growing. Growing pains exist in adulthood too, and that’s OK and also why cultivating my mindset and mind is important to me right now. Yoga, the gratitude journal, scheduling sauna sessions, adding more time, or talking more with friends or moms I meet at the library or classes are all things I’m trying to do to help in nurturing this personal growth.

So, with that, Happy Slow January. I hope you’re easing into it too. If you’re not, do you, but if you want some ways to slow down, here are my favorites:

1.) Make tea and don’t do anything else while the water is boiling or the tea is steeping. Just be in that moment and realize how kind of magical that little ritual is: you turned water into something else.

2.) After you’ve watched your shows or movies just sit in the quiet and darkness of that room. Find a little peace there.

3.) Go for a walk, unplugged.

4.) If you’re interested in your words for the New Year, I really love the little reels that have been coming out from people like Morgan Harper Nichols. The reel is super fast and you take a screenshot at any moment, and the word or image you get is yours for the year. I also love the word searches from people like Gabby Bernstein. Both of these can be found on instagram (and I’m guessing their websites). I also love a good old fashioned chat or reflective journal - talk it out, write it out, see what happens.

5.) Make a playlist for a mood and lean into suggestions from Spotify, they can be real good.

6.) Take a hot shower and drop shower bomb in there. So lovely. Feels like a spa.

7.) Have a mocktail or cocktail while doing a face mask and reading a magazine. YES, A MAGAZINE. They still exist you guys, and it feels really good to read one.

8.) Coloring. Love a good coloring sesh.

9.) Try the new paint by numbers! Invest in a cute set and painting that you’d want to hang or give to a friend after. I recently tried one and they are so fun and awesome.

10.) Create a space to build a puzzle. Let it linger there. Add to it as time allows.

Happy New Year,

Lauren