January: typically a well-known disliked month, but I personally have always enjoyed the month of January. Something about the new excitement of a whole new year, experiencing winter without the holidays, and the quietness after a busier prior month always make me appreciate the joy of this month!

Check out these 10 things about January that cultivate the inner joy within me, and see if any resonate with you!

#1: New Year’s Day

New Years Day so often elicits a feeling of freshness for me. It reminds me the beauty of having a whole new year ahead of me. Of newness.

After years and years of setting New Years Resolutions to kick off the brand new year, something I am coming to really love is the idea of setting intentions.

Intentions feel more expansive to me—more in alignment with our inner joy within us!

Check out these two resources about bringing intentions into your life!:

• 12 Positive New Year Intentions to Help You Feel the Way You Want to Feel
• How To Set Your New Year Intentions

#2: The Stillness of Snow

Something I got from my dad is an appreciation for when you walk out after or during a heavy snow, and the world just seems quieter.

Cars passing on the road are muted. The world just seems to have a soundproof layer around it when the snow blankets the Earth. It truly is such a magical feeling to stand there and just listen to the quiet and feel the solitude of that special moment.

I love this quote about this feeling of snow in particular…

“The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different.” -J.B. Priestly

#3: The Coziness of Hygge

There’s something about after you put away all the holiday decorations in their boxes where you are left with the coziness that is living during the wintertime. Fluffy scarves, warm coats, warmer soups and stews cooking, toasty sweaters, movies that make you feel good, naps, and nice piles of blankets are all things I personally enjoy about the month of January.

I’ve talked about the concept of hygge in my 10 joyful things post for November, but it is truly a term that I love and encapsulates honoring winter and January so well (although one can practice hygge all year long!)

According to Visit Denmark’s website (Denmark is where hygge orginates!),

“In essence, hygge means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. The warm glow of candlelight is hygge. Cosying up with a loved one for a movie – that’s hygge, too. And there’s nothing more hygge than sitting around with friends and family, discussing the big and small things in life.” -Visit Denmark

With January and winter being colder for the most part, I love that hygge encourages us to find the warmth to help contrast with the chillier weather outside!

Check out these ideas for inspiration:

• Watch this video by the Devine’s (one of my favorite YouTubers!): HYGGE: Enjoying the Winter
• Read The Little Book of Hygge (this is really such a fun little read!)
• Check out The Happiness Research Institute’s website (this organization is headed by the author of The Little Book of Hygge above!
• Read this blog post about 31 AMAZING Winter Hygge Ideas & Activities for some fun hygge ideas to try this winter!
• Try “playing” The Hygge Game (it’s really just awesome and genuine conversation starters!) with family and/or friends! I wrote more about my love for this game in my 10 Joyful Things About November post if you want to read some example questions from the game!

#4: Winter Sports

I’ve spent many years truly disliking winter. Winter was cold, gray and just not fun.

However, as I am growing to appreciate and find the joy in it more, something that I want to do is really embrace doing winter sports!

In the warmer months, you see people doing SUP, running, walking, hiking, swimming and so much stuff outdoors. However, during winter, there seems to be a tendency to retreat (which is also lovely!) and stay indoors more. However, there are so many things you can do outside during the wintertime!

Personally, I want to ski more, but I also want to take walks and hikes during the winter more.

Here’s a list of winter activities to try if that idea resonates with you!: 28 Different Types of Winter Sports (Team and Individual)

#5: A Full Moon on a Snowy Night

This is another thing that I have come to love through my dad.

One of his favorite sights in the whole world is looking outside the window on a winter’s night and seeing the full moon cast shadows on the trees onto the snow covered ground. It is very specific, but when it happens, it truly is such a pleasant sight!

It warmly reminds me of Robert Frost’s poem, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”.

#6: Birthdays (and Unbirthdays!)

Both my brother and I have birthdays in January. So, I grew up always associating January with the fun festivities of birthdays!

Even if you don’t have any birthdays to celebrate this month, I heard about this idea of celebrating your “Unbirthday”, and perhaps January could be when!

According to this this blog post by MindBounce, Lewis Carroll’s (author of Alice in Wonderland), Through The Looking-Glass And What Alice Finds There introduces the idea of Unbirthdays. Simply defined as any day of the year that isn’t your actual birthday!

If your birthday doesn’t fall in January, this month could be a fun one to associate with celebrating your Unbirthday! Check out these ideas for celebrating:

• What Is an “Unbirthday” and How Do You Celebrate It?
• 7 Unbirthday Party Ideas
• What I Learned: Have You Celebrated Your UNbirthday?
• Watch this clip of Alice in Wonderland’s “A Very Merry Unbirthday to You!”
• Watch Alice in Wonderland

#7: Martin Luther Kind, Jr. Day

Over the past several years, it has been so wonderful to see MLK Day turning from just a day off of school/work to one where people volunteer and give their time.

Martin Luther King, Jr. himself said,

“Everybody can be great because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.

How powerful that statement is.

Service truly is such a beacon for joy, and during his lifetime, I truly feel that Martin Luther King, Jr. was trying to convey that as one of his messages.

In addition, I try to view this day as one for remembering all Martin Luther King, Jr. did, how far we have come, and also what we have left. This day, for me, is a joy to celebrate in that I enjoy having the chance to honor such a remarkable man and his impact while also taking part in one of his pillars of his life: service.

Here are some ways to honor MLK Day:

• Here is a link to ideas for serving on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
• This resource also has several ideas to celebrate MLK Day through service.
• Watch or listen to his speeches. My mom and I both try to listen to his ”I Have a Dream” Speech” every year on MLK Day.
• Read some of MLK’s powerful quotes: 22 Powerful and Inspiring Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes
• Watch a movie about Martin Luther King,Jr. and his remarkable life and impact: 10 Movies to Watch to Honor Martin Luther King Jr. This MLK Day
• Check out this article for more ideas on honoring MLK on his day: Meaningful ways to celebrate Martin Luther King Day for kids and adults

#8: Winter Sunsets

I’m not sure if its the chilly air, the snow or the trees without leaves, but there is something really magical to me about sunsets during the winter. The colors seem so vibrant and warm against a world that is colder!

I found this interesting article all about the joy of wintertime sunsets: “Why sunsets are better in the winter”. Interesting to learn there’s a reason why sunsets in wintertime seem more magical!

#9: Twinkle Lights

One thing specifically from the idea of hygge that I love is using twinkle lights during the wintertime. I heard/ read somewhere that why take down your holiday lights (especially the warm white lights!) after December? Instead, leave them up during the wintertime!

I love how twinkle lights look against the nice white snow! There’s such a warm and cozy feeling to it that truly just makes you feel some of that inner joy! Plus, Brené Brown says that twinkle lights are the perfect metaphor for joy!

#10: Taking Time to Appreciate Winter

Without the holiday decorations, music, parties, etc., January truly is a month where you have to experience the season of winter. For many, this season is the least favorite (I’m somebody who is learning to appreciate winter myself!)

However, something that I have found is that when I stop to really see winter, there is something beautiful about it (just like the other three seasons!)

Personally, there’s something about snow. It tends to get a bad rap by many, but when you slow down and look at it…. it sure is something beautiful. The white covering over our regular surroundings, the fresh smell, the chilliness, all of it is such a reminder of how lovely seasons can be. While also a reminder of the importance of taking time to slow down during our own seasons in life.

I love this quote about snow from the post ”How to Not HATE Winter!”,

“If you choose to not find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life but still the same amount of snow.” -Anonymous

I also enjoy this quote regarding the season of winter from the post, “90 Winter Quotes to Warm Your Heart”,

“Winter is a season of recovery and preparation.” -Paul Theroux

How true is that! Life ebbs and flows, and it is so important to value the time to rest and recover just as much as the busier times. Winter is a beautiful reminder to take the time to rest. While also a great time to practice acceptance for what is at the moment.

Here’s some ideas to try for liking winter more:

• Check out this post: How to survive winter even if you really, really hate it
• Read Making Winter
• Decorate for winter—I love to try to create more Scandinavian look in January around the house with lots of cozy whites, grays, and light blues! Or decorate with snowflakes! Or decorate with branch lights!
• Read The Year of Cozy for some fun ideas to love the coziness of January and the other 11 months!

What’s something joyful about January to you? Comment below!