January has got to be the strangest time of year. With the festivities of Christmas and New Year over, we then find ourselves in a month that seems fairly bland and full of 'New Year, New Me' promises. To top it off we are all encouraged to go alcohol free for the month, after possibly drinking copious amounts during December (guilty?….. not us!)
Contrary to the above, here at Jo Deakin the hardship of a Dry January is actually a delight - drinking excessive amounts of tea and coffee is an occupational hazard for us, we love nothing more than sharing a cuppa with our family, friends and colleagues. There is comfort to be found in those cuppas that brightens the dark mornings and lifts the spirits, even if just a little!
We strongly feel the fog can only be lifted on these dark January mornings by the smell of coffee, triggering much needed feelings of wakefulness. And it feels so good to catch up on all the Christmas news with our nearest and dearest listening to the familiar clink clink of the teaspoon being stirred against fine bone china.
It comforts, soothes and feeds the soul and I truly believe the process of making your favourite comforting drink allows you time to stop, restore and reflect, even if just for a moment.
There is definitely no guilt or pressure to only drink herbal and cleansing teas or decaf coffee in January. Everyone has to have something to look forward to as they rise at the start of the day and flop at the end. We say hooray to this feeling and definitely won't be giving any of our favourite drinks up as we start the new year.
January is a month that can be enjoyed, despite the obvious after-Christmas slump. It can be a time to reflect, feel incredibly grateful for the family times we have just been able to share and it is a good time to check back in with how we are feeling about ourselves, in a bit of welcomed quiet, after lots of 'together time'!
We drink every type of tea and coffee there is, earl grey, lapsang, peppermint, black, white, loose-leafed, you name it we drink it, as long as it’s in a Jo Deakin mug naturally! We might even throw in the odd hot chocolate and with an estimated 5 million people taking part in Dry January we know we aren’t alone.
So, if you’re battling your way through the month, clutching onto your new year’s resolutions, take a moment to slow down and sip with us. Whether you're on your own or with friends, take some time to have a stylish cup of what you love, it can only be a good thing. You can be sure the offer of a tea or coffee to any of your loved ones this month (or anytime of the year for that matter) won’t be refused and will always help combat the January blues.
Speaking of which, to give you some inspiration and guidance, we have put together some tips as to how best to cope with Dry January and the inevitable blues below.
1. Have a clear out of your wardrobe, children's playrooms and their wardrobes and make space for the new gifts and toys that you all received last month. Reorganise your various home corners and perhaps bag up some things for Charity shops, especially anything warm for those who have a lot less choice when it comes to selecting the perfect snuggly jumper to cosy up with.
2. Make the process of making your favourite comforting drink a ritual. Perhaps buy some really lovely tea bags, these are some of our favourites, linked below. Perhaps invest in some lovely quality coffee beans, ground coffee or deliciously warming herbal teas. Boil the kettle, whilst doing so take some deep breaths (in to the count of 4, out to the count of 6 and pause at the bottom before taking your next breath). Put your phone down and spend a minute in the quiet whilst you wait for the kettle or coffee machine to ping. This will reset you each time, filling you with fresh air and even a moment as small as this can really help to restore you.
Pukka Love Tea - Good news for filling your heart with love...Made with organic chamomile, elderflower, lavender, licorice, limeflower and marigold. A tender touch of rose fills your heart. The soft embrace of chamomile and lavender soothe your soul!
3. If Father C didn't bring you some in your stocking then treat yourself to some new shampoo and shower gel and Body Lotion. There is something very spoiling about a long hot shower, washing your hair and drying it and moisturising your skin before putting your cosiest clothes on for the day. We absolutely love these products for their very special qualities and gorgeous smells.
4. Invest in some bath salts, ideally epsom salts, they contain magnesium and are a proven way to relax muscles and benefit sleep. Magnesium is an important mineral naturally found in the body, thought to help promote heathy sleeping patterns and encourage relaxation. Transdermal mineral bathing is an effective way to relax, as the magnesium flakes transform your bath into a more comforting environment.
5. Make some soup, it takes less than 30 mins and all you need is a decent blender! Warm food is almost as important as warm drinks. Making soup from scratch is so easy and is a brilliant way of using up sad looking veg and left-over roast meat. It is the ultimate comfort if you sip from a Jo D mug too! There are so many options when it comes to making a hearty bowl of goodness, we love Leon for their dinky but brilliant soup inspired cook book!
6. Find pleasure in the smallest things, daily, even for 5 minutes! Read a chapter of your book, read a magazine cover to cover, go out in nature for a walk (don't forget to always look up!) or sit quietly listening to your favourite music. These are all restorative and mindful things to do. They will do you the world of good and give you a break without having to sit in a darkened room pretending to meditate successfully!
7. Go to bed early. The benefits of sleep before the hours of midnight are enormous. Dr Nerina Ramlakhan explains that "The 90 minute phase before midnight is one of the most powerful phases of sleep, because it’s the period where the body is replenished,” Ramlakhan explains. “It’s rejuvenated on every level – physically, mentally, emotionally and, I believe, spiritually as well. There’s a lot of healing that takes place in that first phase of sleep.”
She continues: “It’s also a really important phase for reorganising the brain. So all the information we’re taking in during the day gets reorganised during that phase of sleep before midnight, and it’s very important for bringing adrenaline levels down – if you’re under a lot of stress, you want to make sure you get that phase before midnight.”
Why not treat yourself to some really gorgeous PJ's too?!
8. Put your PPE mask down and invest in a spoiling face and eye mask instead! We absolutely love Tropic for all their products, but in particular, their face masks, they are amazing. So soothing and spoiling, we cannot get enough of them! As for the ultimate eye mask, look no further than the Space Mask. This will send you into an intergalatic spin of calm and tranquility.
I hope to hit all 8 of these throughout the month, and I really hope you will join me!
Love Jo x
