A Month of Less Scrolling and More Savoring

January for me has always been the month that I slow down and rest the most. The cold days and longer nights keeps me at a slower pace than I normally would be any other time of year. I will often find myself napping, not working out as much, and simply savoring the days at home doing fun little hobbies that I enjoy. I recently took nearly the whole month of January mostly offline to give myself the rest that I needed mentally as well. While I do love social media and blogging, there is a good chance that January will always be a time that I take a step back to be able to step into the new year and the thick of winter with more ease.

I enjoy very simple pleasures during this time of year such as watching a comfort show or movie, cozying up under a heated blanket, many cups of hot tea, a fun activity, baking something warming and delicious, and reading in my corner chair. Here in Raleigh it’s also been a colder than normal winter with a few days of snow which is uncommon here. So while the winter marches on into its last month of February, I wanted to share some insights I had from taking a month off of scrolling and spending more time savoring everyday life.

• If you need to clear your mind then enjoy a few hours of coloring. It’s a low-stakes hobby where the only thing you will think about is which color you’re going to use next.

• Wearing cute pajamas all day on a slow Sunday before work starts back is the kind cozy that makes life in winter worth savoring.

• We desperately need another show and magazine like Martha Stewart living again. I love putting on the Martha Stewart Living show (all episodes are on Roku Channel for free) and spend hours casually watching it and coloring on cold weekends.

• Word Search games and a cozy jazz playlist will elevate your mood better than any social media scrolling ever could.

• A hot tea and a little cake is the kind of simple pleasure to indulge in to remind you that life can be so delightful, even in the smallest of moments.

• Reading cozy books that take place during winter gives you a whole new appreciation of the season. It also makes you feel grateful that there is a season for slowing down and savoring the gentle moments of everyday life.

• Colorful flowers are always worth the investment and can brighten up even the bluest of winter days.

• Getting out with a hot coffee reminds you that while the days may be quite cold, it’s still a pleasure to visit your favorite places even if you have to bundle up a little.

Taking time offline to savor life is truly time worth having every now and then. Winter is a good time to take a step back from the noise of the online world and to instead savor the quiet moments of the season and to learn to be more still and gentle. While I am looking forward to spring just right around the corner, I am also going to be present in the here and now and to enjoy the moments that only winter can provide while giving myself grace to rest more and to live a little slower.