Bring it on!

As months go, January is often seen as the worst.  Like Mondays, it is usually dreaded and feared.  Visions of anemic salads and dreary, damp days tied in with the post-party comedown.  The harshness of reality, resolutions that were 100% reasonable on the 31st, now seem unrealistic and gloomy… the guilt sets in so we all just hole-up and sit tight, anticipating January’s end.

But – no more!  January can be the most spiritually fulfilling and mentally rewarding month of all.  Let it be your rebirth.  Fill it with nurturing rituals for your mind, body and home – it’s your month for personal growth; your gift to yourself..  While December is all about others, January is all about you.

Mood & inspiration boards

This is such a fun and cosy way to begin the year!  Take a bundle of all the magazines, cards or flyers (or whatever you have to hand) that have accumulated in your home from 2017. Then sift through, picking out anything that jumps out.  A picture, a quote, a word… whatever inspires you.

Your board should represent your goals for 2018 and beyond, a visual representation of everything you want in life or aspire to be.

Not only will it help you manifest your vision into reality, but it also acts as a:

• Digital detox
• Fun way to spend your time
• Way to stimulate your creative side
• Piece of artwork
• Tactic to help you to focus on your goals
• Channel for inspiration
• Tool for clearing the mind

It is reminder of what you want in life, your ultimate goal – your dream.

Eat nourishing meals, which make you happy!

Like me, you may have over indulged a tad during December.  But, don’t fret… there's no need to to starve your body during January.  Do the opposite.  Feed it colourful, delicious, nourishing meals that are bursting with nutrition.  This will boost your mood, give a glow to your skin and fill you with energy.

Eat foods which are high in tryptophan, such as eggs, nuts, seeds, oats, chickpeas, bananas, tofu and pineapples.  Tryptophan is converted into the 'happy hormone' serotonin in the body, something your January self will appreciate.  It is advisable to eat these foods alongside carbohydrate rich foods (think starchy root veg) to spike tryptophan’s mood boosting properties. 

Try Nicky’s mood-boosting Vietnamese pancakes with curried crispy tofu & almond dipping sauce.

Fermented food, green tea, turmeric, Omega 3 rich foods, Vitamin D (it's best to get a spray at this time of year) and zinc also play a role in keeping your mood balanced.  Try making your meals as colourful as possible – eat a rainbow each day.  Remember, the more colours you eat, the more nutrients you're getting!

Cleanse your home of negative energies for the New Year

So much time is spent in your little nest, begin the New Year by making it your happy little haven, positively charged and cleared of all the old energetic clutter.

Why not join us for our event ‘Good Vibes Only Please" with John McLaughlin?  A unique evening where we will explore the themes around the manifestation of negative energy in a space and learn some powerful methods to clear the residual effects these can have on the building and its inhabitants.

Be sociable without spending

Don’t hide away all alone for January.  Being around friends induces feelings of wellbeing. You don’t have to spend money either, invite them over for board games, to create mood boards, or watch movies.  Perhaps go to theirs to help them cleanse their home bring over a nutritious meal.  You don’t need to give up your social life for January – spending less cash also helps you to spend time with friends more creatively.

Exercise, take up a new class – something fun!

Boost your serotonin levels, get fit and have fun.

Dublin is packed with fun places to get fit.  Instead of it being a chore, your January get fit ritual should be something that excites you. It should be something that you really enjoy and keeps a smile on your face rather than a grimace!

Why not try Jane Shortall's Confidance, Boogie Bounce, Clubbercise or FIT (Fun, Intense, Training) ?  You can have the craic and tone up at the same time!

For those who like something a little more extreme, why not try a six-week bootcamp progaramme with Bootcamp Ireland?  You can enter our competition to win either a six-week bootcamp Ireland voucher or a six-week mummy bootcamp Ireland voucher!

For you dog lovers out there, you can also try out Borrow my Doggy in your area.  It’s a great excuse to get out in the fresh air.   It’s hard not to stay cheerful when you're out on adventures with a furry friend gamboling like a spingtime lamb!

Check out my new bestie Libby below!

Cleanse gently with herbs

Look all around us and we can see the abundant toolkit nature has given us to help support our physiology.  Using herbs is such a natural and gentle way to help cleanse your body.  Why cleanse at all?  Because it can:

• Boost your energy
• Enhance digestion
• Help you feel happier and more positive
• Decrease sugar cravings
• Revive your skin
• Deepen sleep
• Clear the mind
• Strengthen the body’s healing ability

You can join The Hopsack owners Erica and Finn at our 'Spring Cleaning – Taking the Broom to Your Body' event for a dive into the principles of safe and effective cleansing rituals.  You'll learn how to identify which organs need most attention, what herbs and nutrients can help, and the dietary regimes that could affect the outcome.

Start your New Year on a high!