The last days of January bring with them a quiet shift—subtle but steady. The sun lingers just a little longer in the sky each evening, a promise whispered in golden light against frost-covered windows. One more minute of daylight a day, a minute more of hope, of possibility. Winter still holds its grip, but the earth is tilting, moving us toward spring. Now is the time to plan, to lay the foundation for the year ahead before the first crocuses push through the thawing soil.
Decluttering: Making Room for Renewal
The long, dark days of winter have given us ample time to sit inside and see our homes in a different light. The clutter in the corners, the excess in the closets, the boxes of things we haven’t touched in years—all of it is waiting for us to decide what truly belongs in our lives.
A simple way to start:
- Housecleaning Schedule: Dedicate one day a week to deep-cleaning a specific room. Rotate each week, so by the time spring arrives, your home is refreshed.
- The Great Purge: Set a goal to remove one bag of unnecessary items from your home each week—donate usable clothes, pass along books, and recycle or discard what no longer serves you.
- Mindful Minimalism: Keep only what you love, what is useful, or what holds deep sentimental value. Everything else is just taking up space.
Growing Nourishment: A Garden, Large or Small
There is something primal about planting food, about putting your hands into the soil and nurturing something that will, in time, nurture you in return. You don’t need acres—though if you have them, use them. A few raised beds, a row of herbs along the kitchen window, a tomato plant in a pot on the porch—every small act of growing is an act of self-sufficiency, of connection to the land.
Plan now:
- Choose Your Space: Whether it’s a backyard plot, a community garden, or a sunny windowsill, find where your food will grow.
- Find your Zone: The Old Farmers Almanac, 2025 Planting Calendar by Zip Code | The Old Farmer’s Almanac | Almanac.com is a great resource for this. Be mindful of the instructions on your seed packets for sprouting times.
- Start Small: Herbs, lettuce, radishes—fast-growing and forgiving for beginners. Make a salad garden.
- Plan for Pollinators: Flowers like lavender, marigolds, and wildflowers help sustain bees and butterflies, ensuring a healthier garden and a more beautiful space.
Finding Creativity: Connecting with a Community
Winter can be isolating, but creativity thrives in community. The shift into spring is the perfect time to find your people, to make space for your art, your words, your passions.
Ideas for creative connection:
- Join an Art Group: Many communities have painting groups, ceramics studios, or local workshops.
- Start or Join a Writing Group: A weekly meeting for sharing ideas, prompts, or just quiet writing time can be a powerful motivator.
- Host a Book Club: Choose books that inspire and challenge, then gather over coffee or wine to discuss.
- Weekly Creativity Meetups: A casual gathering with friends to paint, sketch, or write can be the gentle accountability needed to create consistently.
Walking into Spring: The Power of Movement and Sunlight
We are creatures of the sun, and winter’s lack of light weighs heavy. Now, as the days stretch toward spring, it’s time to step outside, breathe in the crisp air, and let the sun find our skin again.
Daily walks, even for fifteen minutes, help reset our internal rhythms, boost mood, and provide much-needed vitamin D. As the weeks pass, those minutes outside will grow, the air will warm, and the habit will have already taken root.
The Planning Phase: Preparing for What’s to Come
January and February are for laying the groundwork. This is the time to plan, to dream, to ready ourselves for action as the world shifts toward renewal.
- Declutter and refresh your home so that when the doors and windows open to spring, the air flows through a space that feels lighter.
- Plan your garden, even if it’s just a few pots, and gather seeds for when the time is right.
- Find your creative tribe, whether in art, writing, or books, and set the intention to grow together.
- Walk, move, stretch, and breathe as we lean into longer days and the return of the sun.
Spring will come. The light is returning. Let’s be ready for it.
