When I think about the time of the year I am happiest in, springtime automatically comes to mind; watching the tulips blossom in their multitudes, swaying in the soft breeze, and waking up to the sound of birds chirping through the early hours of the sunrise – there has always been a warmth to spring, making it my favourite time of the year.

But right now, we find ourselves in January, which is in many ways a direct contrast to spring, to put it politely. The trees are naked and bare, the air is bitter and frosty, and for some reason it always seems as if everyone is in a rush – heads down and earphones on, winter scarves wrapped tightly around their faces as they weave their way through Cornmarket Street. And one could hardly blame them. After all, it is infamously known that the first month of the year brings post-holiday blues, not to mention the dreaded Hilary term.

I’m personally no stranger to winter blues, and I have definitely been part of the collective mindset that January doesn’t have much to offer aside from a heavy workload, stress, and catching a winter flu. However, upon reflection, I resolved to step away from that mindset, fearing a self-fulfilling prophecy, and decided that rather than making January a survival game, I wanted to actually make it worthwhile. I didn’t just want to live through January, I wanted to experience January and find moments to love and cherish in the midst of these pending blues.

I’m sure we’ve all heard the phrases, “it’s the little things in life that matter the most” or, “it’s the small joys in life” in one form or another. These are phrases which emphasise the art of embracing and appreciating life’s simple pleasures, phrases that I’ve used to change my perspective on how I view my life. 

For me, the best way to find small pockets of joy during this month was through finding pleasure in ordinary things – actively looking for moments where I could enjoy small comforts that make the grey skies seem not so bleak.

One thing I’ve strived to do every day is have something to look forward to, no matter how small it is. Perhaps it’s taking a stroll around Worcester’s lake, or browsing the shelves of Blackwell’s. Maybe it’s sitting down to watch an episode of my yearly rewatch of Gilmore Girls at the end of the day, or video calling my best friend from home – as long as there is something to look forward to each day, I feel as if I have a bubble of joy floating around in my mind, pushing me to keep going.

Showing myself small acts of kindness, even just very little things, can bring me immense joy. For example, some may find it silly to eat their breakfast out of a pink, heart-shaped plate, but for me, this makes my mornings a little bit more exciting, gearing me up for the day ahead. The company of a warm cup of tea is something I’ll never turn down, but perhaps I could swap my typical Earl Grey for something a little different, like a hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows. When evening arrives, I like to keep my curtains open a little, with my desk lamp and fairy lights illuminating the room – the soft glow brings a sense of warmth that is only too welcome during this relatively dark month. And you can never underestimate the healing power of colour – I love keeping my shelves lined with hand-painted trinkets and thrifted ornaments, and keeping a fresh bouquet of flowers at all times. The flowers may not exactly be the tulips that I adore so much in the spring, but there’s nothing quite like looking up from my desk when I’m studying, to see the flowers blooming on the shelf above me. 

This January, I decided to take being an early riser a little more seriously; waking up to watch the cotton-candy sunrise, to hear the early birds chirping somewhere in the distance. It’s these small moments that make all the difference between just another cold and dreary day in January, and a day that once nighttime arrives, you can look back upon and feel some sense of fulfilment.

This isn’t to say that adopting the mindset of appreciating little things will completely rid anyone of their January blues. However, I’ve personally found that when I can see the bigger picture and realise that January isn’t just defined by one moment, but rather a series of small, fleeting joys that can sum up to create something rather special, then perhaps it isn’t too bad after all. I don’t see January becoming my favourite time of year by any means, however, that doesn’t mean that it has to be a time that I wish to avoid thinking about completely.

There are only certain things we can control – I may not be able to control the gusts of wind and heavy rain this month, but I can get cosy under a blanket with a book and listen to the raindrops cascading against my window. I might not smell tulips, but I can admire the shy snowdrops that are slowly beginning to emerge as this month fades away. There isn’t a lot I can control, but I do have the choice to do my very best to control my mindset, and that’s something that brings me a sense of contentment during this month.

And, like everything, January will pass by, for it is just another fleeting moment. The way I see it is: you could either play the passive role, letting January happen to you, OR you could find moments of your life to romanticise, moments where you can go out of your way to find joy in the littlest of things. For something that doesn’t take much effort, the effects this could have may truly change your approach to this month, and who knows, maybe, just maybe, you’ll find yourself falling a little bit in love with January. Appreciating the small joys is something that extends beyond this month, and I’ve found myself in the habit of finding pleasure in the simplest of things all year round – once you start, you won’t be able to stop looking for your pockets of sunshine!