In January News…

THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH:

January is not usually my favorite month of the year. A cold, grey month of going back to work and school after the glimmer of the holiday season can be more than a little daunting. However, I am also one of those typical hopefuls who dutifully scratches out a list of resolutions on the first of the month, maybe in pink pen, most definitely on a fresh page in my leatherbound journal. Among that list of earnest goals this year was one that urged the majesty of mundane life. I told myself I would make an effort to appreciate each day, each week, each season of my life without constantly counting down to the next phase. I often fall victim to that cycle, ticking off calendar pages until the next concert, the next trip, the next pool day, the next fall of snow. I made it a goal this year to make each day something worthwhile for myself.

Right now, that might sound lofty and a little pretentious. But really, I mean it very simply. I mean actually lighting the new candle I was gifted, instead of saving it for that very special “self-care” day in the future. I mean using the nice skincare and bubble bath I buy, instead of stashing them away for specific events I may not even attend. I mean playing my favorite records while I clean or paint or study, rather than letting them gather dust. My mantra for January is to put those pretty, precious things I hoard to good use. Otherwise, why do I own them?

Another resolution I penned this year was that I will finally stop procrastinating. I have made this goal, rather ambitiously, at least three years in a row now. I’m a terrible procrastinator. The worst. I always tell myself I won’t do it this time, that I really will stay ahead of everything and be diligent and incredibly organized. Quick Poll: How well do you think that has worked?

Answer time: not very well at all. By promising myself this tee-total approach to avoiding procrastination, I overwhelm myself very quickly and end up giving most of my effort up by the third week of classes. I did notice this year, however, that I have made some headway. By making this same resolution three years in a row, I’ve managed to take tiny steps toward a reality where I give myself time to work hard on projects for my degree and my job. I’ve noticed little changes.

I learned to simplify my organizational methods. I always wanted to be one of those people with the impeccably laid out planners, complete with color-coded stickers and every hour of the day scheduled out. I cannot function like that. I don’t know if it’s undiagnosed ADHD or what, but trying to reach that level of planning sent me into a spiral of forgoing the planner entirely and writing absolutely nothing down. Well, in short, that doesn’t work well either. Especially for a full-time student involved in extra curriculars and working at least 30 hours a week. I learned, over time, to take a much more pared-down approach. I still order myself a quality paper planner each year, because that’s how I like to do it. But instead of trying to construct minute-by-minute layouts of my days with cutesy stickers and sugary motivational quotes, I just write down my schedule and what I need to get done. That’s it. I write my classes, my work shifts, and then a to do list. And by some miraculous divine intervention, I get things done. On time, and sometimes even with time to spare. Is that not just completely wild and unheard of? Maybe this is what everyone else has been doing all along. Maybe I was the only one over-complicating it. Either way, I’ve finally managed to make tiny steps toward avoiding procrastination, and wow, it is sweet.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

1. “Silver Joy” – Damien Jurado: I heard this song in the soundtrack of the movie The Holdovers and immediately added it to a playlist. Something about it just caught my attention; it’s a perfectly melancholy little folk song.
2. “Cry Baby” – Janis Joplin: A certified classic. Janis’s birthday is in January, so what better way to celebrate than listening to this album on repeat. She’s a one-of-a-kind talent and this song is a perfect display of that.
3. “The Best” – Tina Turner: I don’t know if it’s because I recently rewatched Schitt’s Creek or what, but this has been on repeat. Absolutely perfect song. Ideal for fake-dramatic performances while I get ready. No notes.
4. “Chaos Party” – Briston Maroney: I am all about every project that Briston puts out. He’s such a great guy and so incredibly talented. This is just one of my many favorites off of his latest album. I got to hear this song performed at Grimey’s in Nashville for an intimate album-signing event when it came out, and it’s a priceless memory.
5. “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” – The Animals: I also heard this song in a movie this month, and it reminded me of just how much I love The Animals. I’d really love to have this album on vinyl, so manifesting that this year.

WHAT I’M WATCHING:

FILM: The Holdovers (2023)

At this rate, you’ve probably heard of The Holdovers in some capacity. Oscar buzz and viral hype aside, this is absolutely one of my favorite movies I’ve seen in a long time and is so worth a watch. It’s fun and funny but also emotional and really heartfelt. Every actor’s performance is a 10/10. Think Dead Poet’s Society but slightly less gut-wrenching. It’s beautiful, and I’m 100% adding it into my holiday movie rotation. (It’s also not too Christmas-y to be watched year-round). It’s currently streaming on Peacock.

TV: Parks and Recreation

This is a rewatch, but man does it hold up. I love a good laugh-out-loud sitcom and Parks & Rec just really does that for me (even after the third, fourth, fifth watch). Stellar cast, stellar writing, and some of the funniest TV bits of all time. It’s so perfect for a mindless snow-day binge watch (and I had a lot of those this month). And I’m sorry, but I have to speak my truth: Parks and Rec over The Office any day of the week. (Also currently streaming on Peacock.)

WHAT I’M LOVING:

1. Papier Planner – Like I said before, I’m a paper planner girl and picking one out is one of the best parts of starting a new year. This year, I decided to finally order one I’ve been eyeing from Papier, and I was not disappointed. All of their prints are gorgeous, but “Quilted Daydreams” is an obsession for me right now. I’m a simple girl, if it’s cute I’m going to reach for it more. I also have been really liking the simple organization of their planners, as it helps me stay on track without getting distracted. They also carry gorgeous notebooks, recipe journals, and stationery, so I’m sure I’ll be placing another order pretty soon.
2. Trader Joe’s Crunchy Chili Onion – This was a random Trader Joe’s pick up one time, and now it’s become a total staple in our house. This is similar to a common condiment found at Asian restaurants, so we were stoked to have some to use at home too. Lately, our #1 favorite way to use this is to fry a crispy egg with it. Let me tell you, it is life changing. We’ve gone through a jar a week just using it for breakfast. It has changed the game for homemade breakfast sammies for sure.
3. Rearranging my Room – We were completely snowed in for 7 full days this month. I am grateful to have the ability to do school and work remotely, but as someone who likes to get out and do things constantly, I got antsy VERY quickly. On about the 5th day, I had to completely rearrange all the furniture in my room simply because I got tired of looking at it. An extreme reaction? possibly. But do I feel like I have an entirely new space now? of course! Sometimes moving heavy furniture and a few posters is strangely very beneficial for your mental health.
4. Hyper-specific Playlists – Okay, guiltily, I’ll admit that I have 60+ playlists in my music library. Some of them I don’t touch for months at a time, but they capture a very specific mood or memory, and I can’t bring myself to narrow them down. I am a chronic playlist maker. I just love the process of selecting a group of songs that make me feel a certain way, or transport me to another time, or make it feel like I’m in my own movie. I have playlists based on books, seasons, pictures, concerts I’ve attended and simple phrases that catch my eye. I don’t know why, but it’s just so much fun. If you ever want a peek inside my brain, my Apple Music profile is a great place to start.
5. NYT Connections & Mini-Crossword – I’m well and truly obsessed with playing my little word games in the morning with breakfast. I don’t know if it actually does anything, but it sure feels like a good kickstart for my brain. I tried to be a Wordle girl, but it’s not for me. Instead, I love Connections and the Daily Mini crossword. It literally takes 3 minutes to do this, and to me it seems a slightly better way to wake up than immediately checking Instagram or TikTok. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, try the Tiles game. It’s a matching game but like x1000.

FAREWELL

That’s just a little glimpse of my January. I hope you enjoyed this slightly different post format. I’m hoping to make the newsletter a monthly staple, along with my other various posts. Thank you for reading, and I wish you all a beautiful, healthy, and joyful year. Please share with me your own monthly favorites, playlists, and watchlists. I’m all ears.

I’ll see you in February!

Until next time, Sophia ❤