There's something lovely and pared back about the start of the year

Hello January, can you believe that we are at the start of a new year?

2025 just flew by but I must admit that oddly enough January is one of my favourite months. Don’t get me wrong I adore the glitz, glam and sparkle of December but there is something lovely and pared back about the start of the year.

It’s a time of reflection and while I suppose I’m not a big resolution maker, I do like to have one big goal every year that I work towards. This year I have decided I am going to get a bike and start cycling. Watch out road users!

I used to be an avid cyclist in my teens getting from A to B all summer long on my bike. However, I haven’t cycled in years and the last time I did a leaf blew off the tree in front of me and I became so alarmed, it caused me to topple from the bike so needless to say I can’t envisage myself being on the roads for a couple of months.

I need to purchase said bicycle and then practice on the greenway near my house. My ultimate goal would be to be able to cycle to work a couple of days a week. I’ll keep you updated on my progress on this one. Also, and most importantly what does one wear whilst bicycling?

I also for the very first time in my life am attempting a Dry January. This came about after turning my blood into red wine and cocktails over Christmas.

I knew it was time to take drastic measures so here we find ourselves on the dry. I even went to the pub last Saturday and didn’t have an alcoholic beverage and one thing that really helped was having something lovely planned for Sunday morning.

I booked in for an event at Solis Pilates Studio where we did a pilates class and then had a goal setting talk with the Align Pilates Club.

It was the perfect start to the new year and I felt totally ready for heading back to work the following day.

It also helped that I got some new pilates gear for Christmas and there really is nothing better than heading work a workout in some lovely new pieces.

Speaking of back to work, I am definitely trying to make more of an effort with my workwear this year after sort of falling into a workwear slump for the last few months. Honestly is it not just the most time-consuming thing trying to think of what to wear every day for work especially if you have a fairly flexible workwear policy?

I’ve been perusing Instagram for inspiration and while I’m on a no spend January mission, I am getting inspiration for pieces I can style within my own wardrobe.

Sometimes I’ll pick out a piece from my own wardrobe that I haven’t worn in ages, and I’ll try and find something similar on accounts that I follow and see how other people are styling them.

If you’ve got the basics, it can be really refreshing to see how other people pair items, use different colour ways and jazz things up with accessories.

I’m also going to be on my best behaviour and shop my own wardrobe this month.