January Self-Care Month (Simple Ways to Be Kind to Yourself)

Sharing is caring!

A new year, especially after a busy holiday season, is a great time to start prioritizing yourself a little more. Our self-care ideas for January are full of simple activities, ideas, and journaling you can try.

It’s not easy to prioritize your self-care. So start with simple, daily changes using the calendar. You can also use this self-care indoor planner to identify things you could do, and these 5-minute ideas for those days when you’re really busy.

Winter self-care will look different to your more general self-care ideas, so show yourself patience in these moments. January gives you a unique opportunity to start putting it higher up on your schedule.

Self-Care Calendar for January

Give yourself a full month of simple self-care with our January calendar. The printable can be found below the ideas.

Journal about your wins last year and goals for the upcoming year.
Have a cozy movie night at home.
Go for a scenic walk.
Frame an inspirational quote to display.
Light a scented candle in the evening.
Put on your favorite playlist and relax in the evening.
Try a 10-minute stretching routine.
Make yourself your favorite smoothie.
Have a spa night at home.
Sleep in and have a cozy brunch at home.
Get a mani-pedi at a salon or DIY at home.
Track your sleep for 7 days.
Try a moisturizing face mask.
Have lunch with your favorite coworkers or friends.
Catch up on your favorite show in the evening.
Have a fun evening out in the city.
Take time for your favorite hobby.
Visit the local farmers’ market.
Say one kind thing to yourself in the mirror.
Make your favorite weeknight meal.
Have a bubble bath.
Get yourself a bouquet of your favorite flowers.
Watch the sunset and reflect.
Do something you love today.
Have a cozy afternoon at a coffee shop.
Have a cup of tea, hot cocoa, or another hot drink you prefer.
Try some deep-breathing exercises.
Dance to your favorite songs.
Have a no-screen evening.
Catch up with a friend in person or online.
Write down five things you’re grateful for this month.

Get the January Self-Care printable here.

January Self-Care Journaling

If you’re not sure what you need for self-care, journaling about it is a great starting point. Our January self-care journaling asks you to reflect on the past time and look at routines and ideas you may already be doing. Self-care doesn’t have to be complicated.

The printable can be found after the listed ideas.

1. Rather than being ‘perfect’, what 5-10 minutes of a new routine or goal could be.
2. Three things you’re proud of from last year.
3. Three simple things you’re leaving behind in the past year.
4. Kind words to say to yourself when things don’t go as planned.
5. What kindness to yourself today could look like.
6. Simple ideas for daily self-care this year.
7. Simple ideas for weekly self-care this year.
8. Ideas for simple 5-minute breaks when there’s a lot going on.
9. What brings you joy on a regular weeknight.
10. Ways to make your home cozier.
11. One thing you trust yourself to do this year that you didn’t last year.
12. Positive things to tell yourself when setbacks arise this year.
13. What you notice if you pause and listen, right now.
14. Routines you already have that ground you.
15. What you want to be beyond ‘productive’ this year.
16. What you’d do this year if you had 10 extra minutes every day.
17. Ways you already show up for yourself every day.
18. Times last year you felt most like yourself.
19. Joyful things you could do today.
20. What progress from last year you can continue this year.
21. What motivated you last year when you were really tired.
22. A time you expressed yourself last year.
23. What is distracting you too much.
24. How you can take a break from those distractions.
25. What you love about yourself in this moment.
26. Putting goals aside, what you want to do this year.
27. People who make you laugh and feel confident.
28. Ways to have more time with those people this year.
29. Ways you’ve embraced the winter so far.
30. One way you’ve shown resilience this winter.
31. One way you surprised yourself this month.

Get the ‘Self-Care Journaling for January’ printable here.

Your self-care matters. Even a little more time toward it can go a long way to helping you feel more like yourself.

This January, making your self-care a priority can be a great New Year’s resolution to get started with. Use the calendars, the journaling, and take it one simple step at a time.