What to Do in January

Planning for the Month of January

Ready for a fresh start? January is here in all its resolution-making, goal-setting glory. I’ve got a quick and easy list for you today to help you plan the first month of a new year. Here’s what to do in January.

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Throughout the Month

January is National Hot Tea Month. I have been enjoying some of my favorites: Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Vanilla, Harney & Sons Paris Black Tea, and Yogi Soothing Caramel Bedtime Tea. Or, try a sampler pack and find a new favorite!

It’s also National Oatmeal Month. My younger girls love oatmeal for breakfast…as long as I put chocolate chips in it! Sometimes it seems like all they ever eat for breakfast is dessert. January is a great month to try a new oatmeal recipe, like this amazing Vegan Overnight Oats from Oh She Glows. You’ll find more yummy-inducing oatmeal recipes from Lemons and Zest. Or try a baked oatmeal recipe, like our family favorite peanut butter baked oatmeal from Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures.

New Year’s Day brings an opportunity to plan, reflect, and hopefully, rest. I like to encourage my kids to set goals of their own each year. You can download a copy of my simple Happy New Year Printable for your kids and give them an opportunity to think about their priorities and plans for the new year. By the way, goal setting shouldn’t be exclusive to New Year’s. Whether it’s January, June, or September, you and your kids can benefit from reflecting on how your life looks right now, and how you want it to look in the future.

January List of Fun Holidays

National Spaghetti Day is January 4th. Teach your kids to make spaghetti. Fun holiday + life skills learning = mom win!

January 13th is Make Your Dream Come True Day. Think about a dream that you have and take a step toward making it happen.

National Bagel Day is January 15th–bagels for breakfast, and National Cheese Lovers Day is January 20th. Pick up some cheese you’ve always wanted to try, along with a few favorites, for a fruit-and-cheese plate dinner.

On January 23rd, National Handwriting Day, hand write a note of thanks or encouragement to someone. You could also try some creative hand lettering.

Compliment Day is up next on January 24th. This one is fun and easy to celebrate. Just say all the nice things you notice about the people you come in contact with that day. I’ve tried to get better about this, but many times I will think, “those shoes are so pretty,” or “I love her eye makup,” and just not TELL people. On this day, of all days, say something nice to a stranger, and to the people you love.

January 25th is Opposite Day. I think I will let them have a cookie or small dessert first thing in the morning, followed by a breakfast of “dinner” foods…maybe rice and beans? We’ll finish the day with breakfast for dinner…pancakes and bacon!

Put Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s music on repeat on Mozart’s birthday, January 27th.

Finally, January 29th is National Puzzle Day. Our family worked on a jigsaw puzzle over the Christmas break, so I’ll pull that out for us to work on again. You could also do crossword puzzles, have your kids try a Rubik’s cube, or challenge them with some brainteaser riddles.

Grab a free printable list at the end of this post!

On Sale This Month

Early January is the time to buy wrapping paper and gift bags for next Christmas. This is traditionally a time when many store have “white sales,” if you’re looking for bedding or towels. Most years, I treat January as a minimal spend month after the holidays.

Seasonal Living

All the planning and goal-setting this month puts me in my happy place! I am trying out a Happy Planner this year for the first time, but I will continue using my Google calendars and a wirebound hardcover notebook for my daily journaling and January list-making.

My focus in January is on practicing healthy habits like drinking LOTS OF WATER, and eating LOTS OF VEGGIES. Also, like 90% of us, I’m making it a priority to get moving again. I’ve got a great list of 30-day challenge ideas to jump-start your healthy habits this month.

Around the House

January means saying goodbye to holiday decor, and settling in to the deepest part of winter. Here’s what to do around the house.

Take Down Christmas Decor

If it were possible, I would take down all my Christmas decorations on December 27th every year. After the hustle and bustle of Christmas, I like to keep the day after Christmas low-key, but by the 27th, I am ready to clear it all out. Once all the cozy, but cluttered, Christmas decor is out, I breathe a deep, relaxing breath. It feels clean and fresh, and as much as I can’t wait to put up the tree and festive-ize (I know that’s not a word, but it’s descriptive, right?) for Christmas, I also look forward to taking it all down.

Declutter the Fridge

After all the Christmas parties and dinners and baking, my fridge needs a decluttering too. I have two refrigerators and I like to take a day at the beginning of January to clean them out, freeze items that we might eat later, and restock with healthy fruits and veggies.

Clean the Oven

That holiday cooking and baking means your oven could probably use a cleaning too!

Clean Hardware

Also on my January list is to clean hardware around the house. Doorknobs, hinges, switchplates, cabinet pulls, fan blades, and handrails all get a good wipedown.

Stock the Car for Winter

If you haven’t already, now is the time to make sure your car is stocked with winter supplies. At a minimum, pull out those ice scrapers and toss a blanket in the back. Even better, add a backpack with extra gloves, hats, a flashlight, water, and a first aid kit. Find a great list of supplies for a winter emergency car kit at Almanac.com.

For the Kids

January is a great time to think about goal setting with your kids. Download my free new year planning and goal setting printable to use with your kids. Paint a winter scene, make paper snowflakes, and help them declutter their own toys and closets!

Plan Ahead

February has a few dates to think about in advance. Groundhog Day is February 2nd and Super Bowl Sunday is February 7th.

The big February holiday is Valentine’s Day, February 14th. Start thinking about fun activities to do with the kids, menu ideas, or gift ideas if you exchange gifts on this occasion.

What to Enjoy in January

After I turn off the Christmas carols, take down the tree, and toss the treats, I sit in silence in the dark early mornings, appreciating the tranquility of January. Outside the trees are stark and bare, the skies are heavy and grey, and inside, a favorite pen anchors my thoughts to a fresh, lined page. Something about this month feels more reflective and introspective to me than any other month of the year. The days are quiet and the house empty in comparison to the exuberance of December. More and more, I appreciate the seasonality of life and the rhythms that ebb and flow of energy, activity, and rest. Part of what makes January so appealing to me is the contrast with what came before.

Each month, each season, and stage of life brings something of value. My natural instinct is to be future-focused, always thinking of what’s next. But I’m working on paying attention to the gift of where I am right now. I embraced the excitement and joy of December, and now I am settling in, getting comfortable with the contemplative vibe of January.

Free Printable List

Download my free printable list of what to do in January with dates to remember and fun holidays to celebrate.

Complete Set of Monthly Lists
Monthly Fun Holidays / Monthly Bucket Lists / Monthly Home Maintenance + more!

Here’s to a new year…

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”

-C.S. Lewis

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