As you open a new calendar and the pressure mounts to become a shinier, fitter, more optimised version of yourself, it’s worth acknowledging a small but liberating truth: January is a really awkward month to reinvent your life.
It’s cold, it’s dark, everyone’s broke and our collective serotonin is running low. Which is why, this year, we’re proposing two equally valid paths – and suggesting we stop pretending we have to choose just one.
In one camp are the “new year, new routine” fanatics, the people you’ll find smashing a 6am workout, clutching a protein shake (the clear, pea isolate ones that are almost like a protein squash have been brilliant for me) and claiming, with suspicious enthusiasm, that they love the feeling of their lungs burning in winter air. And honestly? Good for them. A reset can feel energising, and the right fitness tech, supplements and morning rituals can make this commitment easier and more appealing. If you’re craving structure, momentum or the promise of a fresh start, we’ve got the kit for you.
Relax and restore
However, equally persuasive – and, I’d argue, just as productive – is the counter-movement: the cosy, analogue, sofa enthusiasts. The people treating winter as nature intended: a time to hibernate and recalibrate. This isn’t laziness, it’s strategic restoration. The kind your nervous system actually needs after a year that felt like collective whiplash. Think silk pillowcases, weighted blankets and chai that feels like a hug in a mug.
Maybe what 2026 demands is more balance, as the once-rigid line between self-improvement and self-preservation begins to blur. Maybe the mornings are about necking a post-run smoothie on the go, but by evening, you’re slipping into a hoodie so soft it feels prescribed, before lighting a candle, grabbing a journal and sinking under that weighted blanket.
Both approaches count as self-care; both recognise that wellness isn’t a single lane but a negotiation between energy and rest. So, whether January finds you sprinting into a new routine or burrowing into the cosiest version of yourself, consider this your permission to commit fully, oscillate wildly or hover comfortably in the middle.
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This week’s picks
The best exercise bikes for home workouts, spin and getting sweaty, tested
I tried 75 low- and no-alcohol drinks: here are my favourite beers, wines and spirits
How to dress in cold weather: 10 stylish and cosy updates for winter
The big freeze: 21 winter essentials to get you through the cold snap
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Editor’s pick
Whether you’re going to the gym or not aiming any further than the kettle, getting out of bed can be a struggle at this time of year. Since Pete Wise first reviewed them, we have become obsessed with sunrise alarm clocks and the more natural wake-ups they induce. After more winter months of testing, he has a new favourite for 2026 (two are medically certified for treating Sad, too).
Monica Horridge
Deputy editor, the Filter
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In case you missed it …
Few things are cosier than curling up on the sofa under a heated throw, especially if you’re trying not to turn on the heating (an even less tempting prospect after the 1 January price cap rise). Our reviewer Emily Peck has put 20 of the best electric blankets and throws to the test, measuring how quickly and consistently they warm up, as well as just how comfy and cosy they feel.
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Get involved
January doesn’t exactly have a reputation for cheerfulness. Do you have something that never fails to brighten your mood? Perhaps it’s a brightly coloured umbrella, a sentimental gift from a friend or something so beautiful that it always brings a smile to your face. Let us know by replying to this newsletter or emailing us at thefilter@theguardian.com.
