Less & More: The WFH Mom Edit

2025 has officially begun so time to rise n’ grind or something like that…

Well, January is here. I tried to think of a fun or catchy opening but that’s the whole story: it is January. January is it. Most years right after January 1st I find myself feeling a little blue that the holly jolly feels of the holidays are kaput and, even though it’s a relief to have more alone time when the kids go back to school and my husband is done with his PTO, I am just a tiny bit sad that the twinkly lights and candy cane season is all done.

Though I’ve been getting work done all “break” and feel charged up for the new work year, I am going back to my normal work day today and the first day back always feels a little strange. What do you mean Christmas has come and gone? What do you mean I don’t need to eat a square of peppermint bark every morning? No more finding the perfect gift for my loved one or writing up a gift guide? No more sitting near the Christmas tree watching 80293023 wonderfully bad Lifetime holiday movies? I feel like Cindy Lou Who and there ain’t a crumb of Who Hash anywhere around.

A couple of years ago I decided I was going to start dragging some of that holiday joy into January and find ways to combat the mental holiday hangover and find some peace in this most frigid, seemingly bleak month. So, OK, fine. We will go back to real life. But we are going to be sparkling and joyous and feeling like our most wonderful selves, darn it. If you are battling the January holiday hangover, here are some of my go-to strategies for falling back into “regular” life after December and feeling positive even when the temps outside are negative.

Take the Pressure Off

So January comes with this immense pressure to be a NEW YEAR, NEW YOU, BE SO DIFFERENT. But, you know what? You’re pretty great already. So whether you made resolutions (we did! check out some of Molly’s and some of mine) or not, you don’t need to live in a pressure cooker. Incorporate new habits if you’d like and remember no one transforms overnight. Create bite-sized ways to meet your goals and use the January opportunity to plan for the year ahead.

Swing Back Into the Swing of Things

So something I l-o-v-e about January? The literal fresh start it brings and, not to mention, a return to our routine. The Christmas chaos is so much fun but it is chaos. Sleep patterns are wonky, school is nonexistent, work schedules are all over the place, sugar is abundant, and so many folks are OOO I feel like I’m sending my mid-to-late December media pitches into a black hole sometimes. Returning to our family’s routine brings such a calmness to my overworked brain even when January is shaping up to be busy! My oldest starts travel baseball practices multiple times a week in addition to other commitments, I have some (fun! exciting!) big work projects this month, my husband has overtime (praise be), and my youngest has new extracurricular activities starting up. There’s something to do every day but it is all in the routine and all accounted for on our color-coded dry erase calendar in the kitchen. A salute to Santa-free structure!

Make a List

It’s The PR Edit so you know we’re going to tell you to make a list! If you are feeling blah or just need to put some oomph into January, make a list of things you’re looking forward to for the year. This has always helped me combat the post-holiday blues so when mapping out my planner/journal for the year I built in a “look ahead!” list into January so I could write down things I’m pumped for – vacation! My youngest’s piano recital! My 40th birthday! Prep the confetti, babe, we’re getting excited for things to come. Feeling blue? One thing that helps me when I’m down is to make a list of why – what am I disappointed about? What am I missing? What am I feeling? It helps to journal it out.

Lean Into the Cozy Winter Vibes

Even though January is ultra busy and usually freezing cold, I try to remember to focus on how cozy the month is. Christmas lights are cozy but so is a freshly clean home (and you know I love to clean) and comfy socks and a warm sweatshirt. Even on hectic January work mornings after I get my kids off to school, I light a candle or five and try to enjoy those warm indoors feelings. Just lean in to what the present moment has to offer.

Take a Minute to Self Reset

Listen, I love my family so much. SO much! I love them! Like, a lot! But I need alone time and quiet, too. School breaks and PTO and holidays mean so much together time and that is wonderful but by the first week of January I am more than ready to have an hour to do work where I’m not interrupted 87 times. Once those holiday decorations come down, make a plan for self-care and a little mental reset. After shopping, traveling, and cooking for others all holiday long make some time for YOU. Journal, make those lists, meditate, or get a jump on some work in the quiet. I like to schedule a therapy appointment for the first week of January so I can download about the holidays but also discuss any plans or worries or whatever for the new year. I find it helps to mentally unpack that and then start the year fresh.

It is What it is

Above all else, remember there are good things that January has to offer…and no one is actually stopping us from eating peppermint bark in the morning so we can still do that. Bring some of that joy into the post-holiday season and keep the good feelings alive. For instance, we like to take the candy canes from our tree as we dismantle it and bake them into cookies to surprise friends and neighbors. It’s a fun way to spread some cheer even when it isn’t of the holiday variety. If January is hard for you or blue for you or great for you or meh, just remember “it is what it is” and take care of yourself as best you can. I say do your best to start the new year with kindness to your favorite person – you.

Cheers to finding some balance this winter month and adjusting to a new year ahead. How are you feeling as we transition from holly jolly to the daily grind? Any tips to combat the holiday hangover?

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