Right before Christmas I wrote about the importance of having a small project or plan to look forward to in January that can lift your spirits. That post explains why a fresh focus in the new year can make a real difference.
With 2021 drawing to a close, now is the perfect time to choose a simple, achievable goal to carry you through January.
Long, dark winter weeks can feel heavy for many of us, especially after the busyness of the holidays. Choosing a home project or an at-home experience — whether large or small — gives you something positive to concentrate on and can brighten the month.
I thought it would be fun to turn this into a community challenge, so I created a simple plan we can do together. Instead of resolving to overhaul your whole home for the year, pick one focused goal for January and join others doing the same.
A LOVELY JANUARY
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
Choose one room to focus on during January. Make that your January home goal.
Your goal could be to clean, organize, refresh the decor, paint, change lighting, rearrange furniture, or add thoughtful accessories. You might plan a small DIY project, create a new cozy corner, or simply spend time imagining possibilities for the space.
Anything that encourages creativity and intentional action will make the month — and your home — feel more inviting.
Which room will you choose, and what ideas do you have for it?
I’ll be focusing on our bedroom. My aim is to enjoy the process, make steady progress, and create a more restful space. The effort doesn’t need to be complicated to lift your mood.
After you decide on a space, share your plan and post updates throughout January. Tell us about your progress in our Facebook community or share on social media with the hashtag #alovelyjanuary. Feel free to tag @theinspiredroom and I’ll reshare some of the projects and ideas I love.
Invite friends and neighbors to join — doing this together makes it more fun and helps everyone feel connected during a quieter month.
I’ll post updates here on the blog and share progress on social media so you can follow along and get inspiration from what I’m doing.
Instead of a gray, dreary January, let’s make it a lovely month together.
Update: I later shared my bedroom plans and progress in follow-up posts with details about the lantern ceiling light I ordered and the simple updates that made the room feel like a winter sanctuary.