If you are anything like me, you may be feeling a bit meh about January and are pining for it to be spring already. After the elation that comes with Christmas, January is when you come back down to earth. And it's not good. Namely that difficult period of going back to work. The shell shock of having to get up when it's still dark outside, and the pain that is commuting.
Blue Monday is notoriously the biggest day of the year for people pulling sickies. World Travel Market conducted a survey which revealed that 63% of those aged 25 to 44 will be taking the day off on Blue Monday in some capacity, and 77% of those aged 25-44 will be booking a holiday. Because understandably, this is the time of the year where we are fed up of the weather and crave warmer climates.
But we can fight this. Let's fight this together.
I have fixed up a little guide of things to keep us all positive and why January isn't that bad....
No more Christmas songs
Don't get me wrong... I love Christmas songs. But hearing All I Want For Christmas can get a little grating the gazillionth time.
January sales
I don't know about you, but shopping always makes me feel better. Particularly when something you have been eyeing up for ages is now half price. Why not suss out some travel sites and book yourself a wonderful sunshine break in the sales? I discovered last week that Eurostar are doing £29 seats which cheered me up no end!
Great TV
It may be shocking outside, but I'm more than happy to stay in most evenings wrapped up in blankets on the sofa since it's the time of the year where some of the best series are coming back on the box. Namely Black Mirror (the last episode of the new series was seriously haunting!) and Death in Paradise. It's also kind of a relief to have finally got through all the Christmas specials and now get back to all the non Christmas stuff (I love a good Louis Theroux documentary!)
A clean slate
A complete cliché, but it's true. With a new year comes an opportunity to move forward and start all over. As special a year last year was for me, it also came with its lows. I find myself entering a new year having learnt a lot and leaving toxic people behind.
Reduced advent calendars
Cheap chocolate? Yes please! Need I say more? It's also a great time to pick up luxury beauty and skincare advent calendars at slashed prices.
Normality
Supermarkets and other shops are thankfully back to normal. You no longer have to wrestle people for the last [insert item here] on the shelf. And another plus... you now have your evenings back. You no longer need dedicated evenings for writing cards, wrapping presents or scoping the Internet for last minute Christmas gifts. Embrace and enjoy dolce far niente (Italian for the beauty of doing nothing!).
Lighter days
The shortest day of the year is officially behind us. Things are only going to get better (and lighter and brighter!). I won't lie, but it was pretty exciting to see patches of blue in the sky when I woke up this morning rather than PITCH BLACK.
50% off food and drink
Yes you heard correctly! Some restaurants are experiencing a slight post-Christmas slump after having had to cater for numerous Christmas parties in December and are offering some pretty sweet deals. Yuu Kitchen is offering 50% off drinks if you book by 31st January. Other London eateries with January deals include Barrio Soho, The Alchemist, The Jam Tree (Chelsea and Clapham branches only), and Hook Camden (for sustainable fish and chips!). Reds True BBQ have a 51% discount on a selection of small plates, mains and desserts. If you fancy Indian, Scene in Manchester has 50% off food from one of their evening menus in January. Or if contemporary Chinese is more your thing, Tattu has 40% off from Sunday to Thursday. Bear in mind that a lot of these offers are only eligible when you book in advance, and some may require you to quote a promotion code or print a voucher to bring with you. It's well worth checking the small print and T&Cs online for your favourite restaurant to see if they have any vouchers and offers this January.
Looking ahead to next Christmas
Next Christmas is already coming along nicely thanks to the January sales. It's a great time to pick up reduced wrapping paper, cards, Christmas decorations, and party food. Most supermarket canapés and party food are suitable for freezing (check the small print to see if there is a time limit for when they need to be eaten by!), so if you have enough space in your freezer, why not stock up ready for next year? My favourites this year were the Aldi pork belly squares (no longer listed online), the Marks & Spencer pork crackling straws and the Tesco chicken katsu spring rolls. The other day I picked up thank you cards and two packs of Christmas cards for next year for the grand total of £2.49. Next on my list... finding next year's wrapping paper. My top two contenders so far are a classy gold geo print paper and tree wrapping paper which would look beautiful wrapped with red ribbon.
Stay positive this Blue Monday folks!
If you are one of the restaurants or brands featured in this post and your January offer has since expired or changed, do reach out to me at lucy@curiouser-and-curiouser.co.uk so I can keep this page as up to date as possible!
Blue Monday is notoriously the biggest day of the year for people pulling sickies. World Travel Market conducted a survey which revealed that 63% of those aged 25 to 44 will be taking the day off on Blue Monday in some capacity, and 77% of those aged 25-44 will be booking a holiday. Because understandably, this is the time of the year where we are fed up of the weather and crave warmer climates.
But we can fight this. Let's fight this together.
I have fixed up a little guide of things to keep us all positive and why January isn't that bad....
No more Christmas songs
Don't get me wrong... I love Christmas songs. But hearing All I Want For Christmas can get a little grating the gazillionth time.
January sales
I don't know about you, but shopping always makes me feel better. Particularly when something you have been eyeing up for ages is now half price. Why not suss out some travel sites and book yourself a wonderful sunshine break in the sales? I discovered last week that Eurostar are doing £29 seats which cheered me up no end!
Great TV
It may be shocking outside, but I'm more than happy to stay in most evenings wrapped up in blankets on the sofa since it's the time of the year where some of the best series are coming back on the box. Namely Black Mirror (the last episode of the new series was seriously haunting!) and Death in Paradise. It's also kind of a relief to have finally got through all the Christmas specials and now get back to all the non Christmas stuff (I love a good Louis Theroux documentary!)
A clean slate
A complete cliché, but it's true. With a new year comes an opportunity to move forward and start all over. As special a year last year was for me, it also came with its lows. I find myself entering a new year having learnt a lot and leaving toxic people behind.
Reduced advent calendars
Cheap chocolate? Yes please! Need I say more? It's also a great time to pick up luxury beauty and skincare advent calendars at slashed prices.
Normality
Supermarkets and other shops are thankfully back to normal. You no longer have to wrestle people for the last [insert item here] on the shelf. And another plus... you now have your evenings back. You no longer need dedicated evenings for writing cards, wrapping presents or scoping the Internet for last minute Christmas gifts. Embrace and enjoy dolce far niente (Italian for the beauty of doing nothing!).
Lighter days
The shortest day of the year is officially behind us. Things are only going to get better (and lighter and brighter!). I won't lie, but it was pretty exciting to see patches of blue in the sky when I woke up this morning rather than PITCH BLACK.
50% off food and drink
Yes you heard correctly! Some restaurants are experiencing a slight post-Christmas slump after having had to cater for numerous Christmas parties in December and are offering some pretty sweet deals. Yuu Kitchen is offering 50% off drinks if you book by 31st January. Other London eateries with January deals include Barrio Soho, The Alchemist, The Jam Tree (Chelsea and Clapham branches only), and Hook Camden (for sustainable fish and chips!). Reds True BBQ have a 51% discount on a selection of small plates, mains and desserts. If you fancy Indian, Scene in Manchester has 50% off food from one of their evening menus in January. Or if contemporary Chinese is more your thing, Tattu has 40% off from Sunday to Thursday. Bear in mind that a lot of these offers are only eligible when you book in advance, and some may require you to quote a promotion code or print a voucher to bring with you. It's well worth checking the small print and T&Cs online for your favourite restaurant to see if they have any vouchers and offers this January.
Looking ahead to next Christmas
Next Christmas is already coming along nicely thanks to the January sales. It's a great time to pick up reduced wrapping paper, cards, Christmas decorations, and party food. Most supermarket canapés and party food are suitable for freezing (check the small print to see if there is a time limit for when they need to be eaten by!), so if you have enough space in your freezer, why not stock up ready for next year? My favourites this year were the Aldi pork belly squares (no longer listed online), the Marks & Spencer pork crackling straws and the Tesco chicken katsu spring rolls. The other day I picked up thank you cards and two packs of Christmas cards for next year for the grand total of £2.49. Next on my list... finding next year's wrapping paper. My top two contenders so far are a classy gold geo print paper and tree wrapping paper which would look beautiful wrapped with red ribbon.
Stay positive this Blue Monday folks!
If you are one of the restaurants or brands featured in this post and your January offer has since expired or changed, do reach out to me at lucy@curiouser-and-curiouser.co.uk so I can keep this page as up to date as possible!
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