Hello dear readers,
I’m writing this to you from my kitchen table. Out the window, rain thunders down, and inside, Christmas oldies play from the television while a pine candle burns beside me. I spent the morning crafting handmade presents for a few close friends and family, and am now settling in to read and write for the rest of the evening.
As it happens every year, December has been the busiest month yet: finishing up work projects, making, buying, and wrapping gifts, and seeing family and friends for a variety of festive meet-ups. And while it’s all things I enjoy doing—and I always enjoy seeing those I love—I’m usually ready to crawl into a dark cave by the time New Year’s is through.
Because of this (and a couple other reasons I’ll detail below), I’ve decided that January will be a month of hibernation. In other words, I’m not making plans with anyone for the entirety of the month, though this excludes birthdays, because a good chunk of my family are January babies—myself included.
There are also some things I want to try and/or stop doing. I know there’s debate over New Year’s resolutions, but I’ve never thought of it in that way. For me, January is more a time to start, restart, and test out what fits for you. I never force myself to do something I don’t want to do, including keeping up with something I thought I’d want to do but end up not enjoying. It’s all about seeing what sticks!
And so, here’s my January list. It’s a hodge-podge collection, and really just a way for me to organize my thoughts in a way that makes sense to me. But I hope some of these resonate with you, too.
ADDING
- Finding Water
In 2023-2024, I worked through Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way one month at a time, rather than a week at a time. I documented it all on my blog, and found the process to be incredibly beneficial for how I think about and interact with being a creative person. This year, I’m planning on doing the same, but this time with Cameron’s Finding Water. It’s structured the same, but my blog posts will be a little different. You’ll see how at the end of January, when the first chapter is complete.
- Getting out there
As someone who works from home—and a lot of their time is spent reading, writing, and knitting—I spend a lot more time sitting than I’d like. Years ago, I used to go for a walk every single day, regardless of the weather or how I was feeling that day (unless I was extremely sick). I’d like to pick this habit back up in 2026, as much for my physical health as for my mental health. Besides, I love seeing the seasons change in increments—which plants are coming up, which leaves are dying away.
- An apple a day
Years ago, I also used to eat an apple every single day—in oatmeal, with peanut butter, or just on its own. For some reason, I’ve spent a lot less time on fruit recently, and it’s something I’m none too thrilled about. Sometimes I think that I may get scurvy if I don’t change my ways (please note that I’m being dramatic). Still, I do need to eat more fruit, and this is the perfect way for me to do it.
- Writing like Hemingway
Much of the past few months have been me saying I want to write, and then almost always putting other people’s wants and needs before my writing time. In January, I’m going to spend the first few hours of the day writing—no distractions, and not doing anything else beforehand. I tried this sometime in October and loved it, not even checking my phone before my writing time was up. Of everything I’m adding in January, this is what I’m most looking forward to.
- Waking up with the sun
In my early twenties, I often woke around six or seven, and relished in long, calm mornings before I had to be anywhere or speak with anyone. Over the years, my rising time has shifted, to the point where I’m a little embarrassed to admit where it usually lands now. But in January, I’m going to start waking up early again. Nothing drastic—to be honest, probably not before seven—but I would like to make the change so I can shift even earlier in increments.
DELETING
- The month of the hermit
As I said above, I won’t be making any plans with friends or family (birthdays notwithstanding). December is so full of social engagements that, by the time January rolls around, I’m more than ready to turn inward. And besides, there are so many birthdays in my close circle throughout the month that I’ve always struggled to keep up with other social engagements at the same time. So, January is now a hermit month. I’ll try it out this year and see how it feels.
- Goodbye thrift stores
This past year, I spent a lot of time in thrift stores, likely because I was working less than ever. I’d find myself wondering what I should do, and then the books would call my name from down the road, and off I went. But I have more books than I need, and more clothes than I need, and more everything than I need.
- Living like it’s the ‘90s
I remember when we all got iphones and texting was suddenly the easiest thing in the world, no longer needing to hit the keypad on our flip phones multiple times to get a single letter (if you know you know). I’m fine with texting to quickly make plans, but when it comes to seeing how friends or family are doing, I’d rather chat in a coffee shop, or even more fun, write a few letters. I won’t go into why this is, because that’s an entire blog post on its own, but let’s leave it as I’d rather look at my phone as little as possible. So, in January, I will be doing much less texting. Like I do with emails, I’ll have a set window during the day when I reply to messages, and if I get one in the period where I’m not looking at my phone, I’ll respond to it when I am. Of all the things I’m deleting in January, this may be the one I’m most looking forward to. Just send me a letter instead!!
- Managing other people’s feelings
This is something I’ve done since I was a kid, and it’s something I’ve been trying to get away from for the last few years. It’s a process, and I don’t always get it right, but I’m slowly learning that other people’s feelings aren’t my responsibility¹ (even if other people seem to think they are). In January and beyond, I’m continuing the process of handing people’s emotions back to them when they try to push them on me.
- Existing in a certain way online
This year felt like I was undoing everything I learned about posting the “right” way online—same date and time every week, and lord help you if you miss a day, among other things. In 2026, I’m not sticking to any sort of schedule for anything, which I already do here, but not everywhere online. I’m very much looking forward to only posting when I want to post, and not posting if I don’t feel like it. I’m also not going with the idea that everything I post needs to have “value,” or people won’t want to read or interact with it. I want everywhere I show up online to feel personal, like a diary entry, and not like a curated corporation (which you might not have felt seeing me post across the internet, but I sure felt it sometimes). Here’s to continuing to blog like it’s 2007!
I feel I need to add a caveat: none of these are hard and fast rules. I always give myself wiggle room for when I’m not feeling well, or something comes up that needs my attention, or my ADHD bucks against the routines my autism needs. It’s all about flexibility!
Having said this, I don’t think I’ve ever been as excited for January as I am this year. I’ve spent the past few years slipping into ways of living that didn’t excite or serve me, or worse, drained me dry. By reclaiming how I used to live, I’m hoping to get even closer to who I was before life and technology and expectations got in the way—a journey I’ve been on for some time.
I’d love to hear what you’re planning for yourself for January, be it grand plans or small hopes. Until then, I wish you well, and happy holidays to you!
—Catherine
¹ What I mean by this is that some people I have or had in my life act like it’s my job to make them feel better when they’re upset about something. I’m always happy to talk with people about what they’re dealing with, and give them support where I can, but when it turns into “I feel bad and you need to fix it,” I’m no longer doing that work for them.
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