How to Have a Happier January

I was a little unsure about my topic for today’s post. It feels like it veers slightly more towards the personal than the professional, but I think, if we’re being honest, the line between the two can be quite blurry sometimes, especially when you’re working from home, and this is one of those occasions. The whole “leave your emotions at the door” approach to business is now widely considered to be quite outdated and most of us are willing to admit that our mood affects how productive we are. So, what does that mean if you’re somebody, like me, who isn't a massive fan of January? Basically, you have to find ways to make the month a bit happier for the sake of your business.

I’ve never particularly liked January. It’s dark and cold, plus you’re expected to take down your Christmas lights – what could be worse? Also, it’s impossibly long. I know your calendar might say that it’s only 31 days, but this is a lie. It’s at least twice as long as that.

Jokes aside, I think we can all agree that this is the most January of Januarys. Travelling isn’t really an option right now, the headlines are distressing and many of us are still affected by national and local lockdowns (third time lucky here in the UK). I had been planning to start off the new year by writing a serious, translation-focussed blog post, but I thought I’d put that on hold for a bit, because I’m definitely in the mood for something more light-hearted at the moment, and I’m sure you probably are too. Instead, I wanted to write about some of the things I’m doing to make this January feel a bit more bearable (a seasonally specific addition to my “Happiness Habits for Freelancers” blog post, if you will). Hopefully it will give you some ideas for things to try and, if you’ve got any of your own, I’d love to hear them!

Hygge

Well, hello everybody’s favourite Swedish buzzword! I know it’s a little overused at this point, but I still think “hygge” is a great way to describe the act of just embracing cosiness in winter. Obviously, this one might be less relevant depending on where you live, but in the UK, January is very much a cold, wintery month. For some reason, it’s taken me years to fully come to terms with this. Once Christmas is out the way and all the decorations have been taken down, I decide that I’m ready for spring. But it’s not spring.

Instead of enjoying the colder temperatures like I did the month previously, I feel resentful every time I wake up to another icy, gloomy day. This doesn’t really help the situation. What does help is getting your hygge on. This could mean layering up and going for a walk in the cold; lighting some candles and cosying up with a good book; or just eating some warm winter comfort food. Finding ways to celebrate the current season is better than resisting it. Especially when you can’t run away to a nice, hot country.

Start a Fun Project

Many of us go into the new year with resolutions, but mostly we’re focusing on things we want to improve about ourselves rather than finding joy in the present. Goal setting is really important if you want to grow your business (or just generally grow as a person) but how about introducing something into your routine this January that’s just, you know, fun?

I’m somebody who has a lot of hobbies and most of them involve making or creating in some way. In 2021, I’ve decided I really want to set aside a chunk of time each day to just make something. It’s called a “making practice” and I was inspired by Shannon from Badass Cross Stitch and her Make Don’t Break challenge. There doesn’t have to be any specific purpose to any of it – it’s just about boosting your mood and having fun. The bonus is that I can channel that creativity into other areas of my life. 

I’ve also challenged myself to listen to every single album on Rolling Stone’s new list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time by the end of the year. It’s expanding my horizons by forcing me to listen to music I wouldn’t otherwise listen to and I also get the sense of traveling (both through space and time) which is great when you can’t leave your house. Basically, it’s a bit of fun and I realised I needed that right now.

Focus on the Things You Can Control

There are a lot of things we can’t control at the moment (in truth there always are, but it’s more noticeable in a pandemic). It’s difficult to make plans for the future without knowing exactly when and how COVID restrictions will be lifting and most of us don’t cope well with that kind of uncertainty. So, how do we stop ourselves from getting overwhelmed? Essentially, it’s best to focus on the things we can control. That means breaking big tasks down into small steps and taking everything one day at a time.

I’m still trying to do things that my future self will thank me for (like sorting out my tax return and staying on top of chores) but I’m not making elaborate long-term plans. It’s better to focus on the things I can control, such as how I spend my time in the present and where I direct my energies, rather than to drive myself crazy trying to predict what’s going to happen over the next six months (if this year is anything like the last one, then who knows really?). 

Even though there are a lot of terrible things happening in the world at the moment, having to live this way isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It makes you more aware of your priorities and maybe even a little more grateful for the good things in your life. There’s a lot you miss when you’re focussed on organisation and check lists.

So, there you go. Those are some of things I’m doing at the moment to make this tricky January a little happier. Obviously, I’m not a mental health expert, so if you’re really struggling, please reach out to a professional. Whatever you do for a living (whether you’re a freelance translator or not!) I wish you the best possible start to the year and I’d love to hear about any exciting projects or habits you’re adopting to get you through the remaining winter months. All that’s left to say is have a happier January!