Luminescence: Finding Your Light in the Heart of Winter
Getting through winter by picturing myself sitting by the pool at The Laylow Hotel in Honolulu, HI…click on the image to find out more~
Let's face it - January feels like Monday turned into a month. While your Instagram feed is probably flooded with people doing sunrise yoga and meal prepping their way to enlightenment, the rest of us are somewhere between "ready to conquer the world" and "trying to remember which day it is." Wherever you are on this spectrum, let's make this winter different - and yes, I mean actually different, not just "buy a planner and forget about it by week two" different. My suggestion: Read through these ideas and pick one or two to try as a beginning. See what you can do and maybe add a few more as you pack some successes under your belt. You’ve got this!
The "New Year, New You" Brigade vs. Reality 2.0
Sure, we've all seen those "transform your life" posts featuring people who somehow managed to reorganize their entire existence between December 31st and January 1st. But here's the thing - while we might not be ready to run a marathon tomorrow, we can definitely aim higher than just changing our socks. Let's shoot for the stars but pack a backup parachute, shall we?
Moving Your Body (From "Meh" to "Yeah!")
Forget mindless burpees - let's make movement actually exciting:
Start with a kitchen dance party (bonus points if you use a spatula as your mike), but turn it into a daily 15-minute cardio jam session. Create a playlist that makes you want to move, even when your bed is calling your name. I love our portable bluetooth speakers that allow me to sync and play all of my favorite playlists from my phone no matter what room I’m in. Listening to music while I’m cooking our evening meal makes it so much more fun.
Take a "procrastination walk" around the block when you're avoiding that one email you really don't want to answer. But then, transform that procrastination walk into a daily 30-minute power walk. Bonus challenge: Find a new route each week or set distance goals that make you slightly nervous. I walk with a friend several times a week. It’s one of my favorite things because we catch up, connect, get in our steps, and get some sun all at the same time! Good for the body and the soul.
Join a fun fitness class that scares you a little - aerial yoga, kickboxing, or that weird-looking trampoline workout. Being terrible at something new is half the fun. I’m currently in the middle of a wall pilates challenge that I can do at work on a yoga mat in the middle of my workday for seven minutes! Next up for me is a real Pilates class with Reformer machines and instructors.
Set up a "movement streak" challenge with friends - minimum 20 minutes daily, maximum bragging rights. Did you know that a short walk after a meal cuts your blood glucose levels significantly? Give it a try!
Feeding Your Face (With Purpose and Pizza)
Here’s how to level up your nutrition game without losing your soul:
Meal prep like a boss - but make it fun. Weekend cooking parties with friends or family (virtual or IRL) make it less of a chore. No one loves chopping veggies, but it’s so much more fun with company. Damn Delicious, a great food blogger that I follow, has a terrific meal prepping cookbook that makes every recipe worth trying. Here’s the link! (Paid Link) Please note that I receive a small commission on any Amazon purchases you make through my paid links. I never recommend anything I don’t use and love myself.
Take on the "Rainbow Challenge" - try to eat some of the colors of the rainbow each day (and no, Skittles don't count, unfortunately). If you have resistant eaters at your house, try to ninja those veggies in with stealth by chopping them fine or pureeing them first.
Try one new healthier recipe each week - by December you'll have 52 new dishes in your repertoire. Small changes can yield big results. If you’d like to cut your sugar intake, try to sub in fruit after dinner instead of dessert. It’s almost Sumo Tangerine season, and I’m here for it, they’re better than a candy bar. We also love Beyond Dates (Organic Medjool Dates from Yuma, AZ, dipped in 85% dark chocolate and stuffed with all kinds of great fillings) at our local farmer’s market for the most delicious natural treats. Tell Chase, the owner, I sent you!
Drink water like it's your job - get one of those massive water bottles with time markers and treat them like deadlines. In bone-dry AZ, this isn't just a good idea, it’s a way of life. If you follow me on Instagram, you know how much I love LMNT Hot Chocolate Salt and Redmond’s Re-lyte Hydration Powder. Both make getting the right amount of water easy and delicious.
Your Brain: From Drama Queen to Strategy Queen
Turn that mental chatter into your personal cheerleading squad:
Start a "wins and learns" journal - celebrate victories but also plan your next power moves. I have a gratitude journal that I add to every morning on my phone with the Day One app. I jump back on at the end of the day to add my “wins and learns”. I have five years of entries now, and it’s been a valuable and inspiring way to look back and see my progress.
Set monthly challenges that make you slightly uncomfortable - learning a language, taking an online course, or finally figuring out what cryptocurrency actually is.
Create a vision board that's half inspirational/aspirational, half just plain fun - because manifesting your dreams should be a delight. I made my vision board last year and added pictures for each thing (visual artist over here). I look at it almost daily and I find myself making microsteps toward so many of those goals almost subconsciously. Let’s have lunch sometime and we can talk about how amazing our brains are at helping us make our dreams come true!
Join or start a mastermind group where you can share goals and hold each other accountable (while also sharing memes). I’m in a fantastic mastermind group that does both of these. It’s been transformative. I also love sharing dancing chickens and crazy cats with my friends.
Lighting Up Your Life (Literally and Figuratively)
Winter's lighting situation is basically like living in a cave, but with worse Instagram filters. Don't just accept the darkness - defy it:
Here in Arizona, we have the option to drive a couple of hours to Phoenix where it’s warmer and sunnier much of the time. We plan those trips strategically to maximize our time in the Valley of the Sun.
Position yourself near windows like a cat seeking sunspots. My office at the studio has a skylight, and my home office is near a sunny window for this exact reason.
Take "vitamin D breaks" - step outside for two minutes and pretend you're on a tropical vacation. Our deck is sunny every afternoon and I find myself sitting out there for a few minutes whenever I can.
Invest in a light therapy lamp (Paid Link) and pretend it's your personal mini-sun. These really help!
Try hard to get outside for at least 30 minutes daily, even if you have to bundle up like a marshmallow. Trust me, even when it’s 17 degrees like it was this morning, it’s worth it when you’re done!
Open your curtains every morning - consider it your daily act of defiance against winter darkness. I also invested in this rainbow maker (Paid Link) that fills my living room with light and color every morning—it makes me happy:)
The Human Connection (Building Your Success Squad)
Even though you feel like quietly staying huddled under your heated throw for the sixth day in a row, it’s time to reach out to your people:
Join groups or classes aligned with your goals - find your people while finding your passion.
Start a monthly challenge group with friends - everyone picks a goal and reports back.
Schedule regular check-ins with an accountability partner who won't accept your excuses (but will accept your memes).
Volunteer or mentor others - nothing beats the January blues like helping someone else.
Power Rituals That Actually Move the Needle
Create habits that compound over time:
Morning: 10 minutes of meditation or journaling, followed by your non-negotiable movement session.
Midday: Power hour of focused work on your biggest goal.
Evening: Review your wins and plan tomorrow's attack.
Weekend: Meal prep, goal review, and planning for the next day’s success.
The Plot Twist: Progress Is Messy (But Worth It)
Some days you'll crush your goals, others you'll need to retreat and regroup. The key is to keep your ambitious targets while maintaining your sense of humor about the process. Set big goals, break them down into manageable chunks, and celebrate both the tiny steps and the giant leaps.
Remember: If you're not slightly scared of your goals, they're probably not big enough. But that doesn't mean you can't approach them with joy, humor, and the occasional chocolate break.
Keep pushing forward, even when it feels like you're moving through molasses. Spring will come eventually, but why wait for it to start blooming? Start planting your seeds now, water them with determination, and watch them grow.
Take these suggestions, amp them up or dial them back based on your current reality and create your own recipe for success. We're all in this thing together, and together we can make it less about surviving and more about thriving - even if some days that thriving happens from under a blanket fort.
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