The Possibility of January.
I love the possibility of January. As much as I cherish the joy and celebrations of the holidays, when the hustle and bustle calms down, it feels good to reset my home and healthy routines. And I find that the two go hand in hand.
I often tell clients, “It’s a math problem” because there is only so much room, and we need to prioritize what is front and center. This doesn’t just apply to cabinets, pantries, and closets; it goes for our time as well. Here’s my approach.
1 - Reset Three Spaces:
KITCHEN. When we clear out the holiday treats and expired food, then wipe the fridge, it feels like a clean slate and there’s room for nourishing food.
I like to focus on:
Prepping protein: When there’s prepared protein in the fridge, it’s easy to create quick dinner bowls. Some of my favorites to have on hand:
• salmon bites (in air fryer)
• grilled chicken (thank you, honey)
• meatballs or browned ground beef
• shredded chicken
Any of these are great with vegetables on rice, quinoa, salad, pasta, beans, or a baked potato.
Hydration. I often see cabinets and drawers overflowing with water bottles. You only need a couple. Choose your favorites and donate the rest.
• My favorite water bottle is stainless steel, dishwasher safe, leak resistant, has a handle, no straw, is easy to carry (20 oz), and fits in my cup holder.
Easy-to-Grab foods:
In the fridge:
• A turntable dedicated to easy decisions: hummus, salsa, mashed avocado, and sliced citrus to flavor water
• Berries and celery/carrots
• Sparkling flavored waters (Waterloo Cherry Lime and Summer Berry are my favs!)
In the pantry:
· Keep grab-and-go options front and center: trail mix, protein bars, meat sticks, popcorn. Elfa door storage or turntables work well.
· Meal kits: if there are meals that you make on repeat (a favorite soup or meatballs), corral the ingredients you use into a bin, so that on chili night, you can grab that bin and start cooking.
In the freezer:
· Premeasured ingredients for a morning smoothie.
On the counter:
• Staging my green herbal tea on a tray reminds me to drink it.
BED and BATH. You start and end your day here, so a quick reset makes a big impact.
• Bathroom: Purge products that you don’t use or are past their prime. This is a quick win.
• Bedside table: Clear it off and create instant calm. If you read in bed, keep your current book there, not a whole stack.
2 - Reset Three Routines:
MORNING
Rise and shine. For me, this includes time with God (and coffee). Even a 10-minute time of prayer and reading can set the tone for the day.
• Keep a basket and blanket next to your favorite reading spot. In mine, I have a Bible, devotional, and dated journal. I also love the Pause app for inspiration.
Exercise. There is no substitute for a good workout. I love a class where I just show up and a motivating coach leads me through an efficient, curated workout. It completely clears my head when I’m focused on pushing through 10 more seconds or 10 more reps. It checks the boxes for physical, mental, and social wellness.
EVENING
Set yourself up for success.
• Clear the counters and start the dishwasher.
• Set out what you need for the morning rush (your morning self will thank you):
▪ What you need to make breakfast.
▪ That favorite water bottle (and perhaps a little Drip Drop Lemon Lime powder to perk it up?).
▪ Whatever you’ll need to take out the door for the day: Workout bag, Errand or Work bag.
WEEKLY:
Smoothie prep: On Sunday, I assemble my smoothie ingredients into reusable pouches so I can dump them into my blender each morning. I outline this routine in a previous post.
Plan Meals: Look at your schedule to see which nights you have more time to cook and which nights you’ll need the crockpot or leftovers. I like the AnyList app for planning meals. You can balance the week, varying the protein. You can slide a meal to another night if your plans change. You can look back at your previous grocery list and tap to add items to your new list. As you shop, you can tap to check off items.
Know thyself.
• When I finally admitted that I needed a pill box to keep track of things like fish oil, probiotics, and vitamins, I went from forgetting to take them to taking them 100% of the time. I fill it on Sunday and keep it on my bathroom counter.
• On hectic mornings, if I don’t put my workout shoes on by a certain time, I won’t make it to the gym, so I have an alarm for that. When I’m busy working, I’ll forget to drink water, so I have an alarm for that, too. Identify your roadblocks and meet yourself where you are.
• Reverse engineer your goals. If you know you’ll have a crazy afternoon, then put chicken breasts and salsa Verde in the crockpot before you head out the door.
Small resets in your home and routines can help you make room for what matters most. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2026!
