New Year Blues

As we firmly transition into the new year and officially put Christmas behind us, it's not unusual to feel a sense of bittersweet emotion as we reflect on the festive period just gone. January has some big shoes to fill, and it's common for people to fall into a bit of a slump as we return to some form of normality and routine.

We all start to realise that those new year's resolutions will probably be next year's resolutions instead, and we long for the fun times we spent with friends and family over the previous few weeks. All in all, January can be a bit of a rough time, but we want to help you turn your January Blues into something more positive and inspiring!

There's a known psychological response to helping out that increases a person's feelings of well-being. This can come from small acts of kindness throughout your day, or greater efforts that significantly impact people's lives. Whatever you choose to do, any effort is truly appreciated and helps to make the world a better place, in turn making your January blues less of an issue.

Similar to making your bed in the morning to get you ready for the day, doing a little bit to help early this year might make you want to continue throughout 2023 and beyond!

...so what can you do?

Christmas is the most wasteful time of the year, with gift wrapping and food going to waste after the holiday season, causing a massive impact on our environment. Making sure to recycle what you can will help massively in limiting the impact we have on the planet.

Be double sure to check your local guidelines for what can and can't be recycled near you, and maybe keep an eye out for recyclable alternatives going into Christmas 2023!

We’ve been focusing on recyclable products for a while now, with FSC® certified products covering most of our product ranges. This means they are sourced from sustainable forests and can be recycled later on with the materials being reusable. Check out our range of FSC products here

Maybe you received a lot of new clothes for Christmas, or maybe you just want to downsize your overflowing wardrobe, either way you may feel the need to get rid of those old clothes you haven't worn in a few months (or years!).

As we're still in the middle of winter and a cost of living crisis, there are more people now than ever who need help to get through these cold periods. Donating your old clothes to charity is one of the easiest ways to help out, costing you nothing to do so, and making a huge difference to the lives of the most vulnerable, while also reducing the amount of good clothing that goes to waste in our bins.

Most local charity shops accept clothing donations, although you can look into specific charities that help homeless people, vulnerable families, or war victims such as those in Ukraine.

January often feels like the month to clean-up and clear-out, however you might want to reconsider that when looking at your garden! Letting your grass grow long and leaves pile up gives small animals and insects a cosy place to stay during the colder months, and lets you relax without worrying about the state of your garden.

If you have a pond that's frozen over, gently crack the ice to allow creatures to come and go, or float a ball in the water to stop it from freezing.

Even leaving bruised or overly-soft fruits outside can help feed the local wildlife, although if you have cats and dogs about, be sure to avoid dried fruits and grapes!

At the end of the day, it's making an effort that really matters. It can feel a bit overwhelming trying to tick everything off the list all at once, so just start with what's easiest for you. Doing one small thing to help out can drastically improve your self-esteem and cause you to want to do more. Over time this can build into a good habit, and if enough people do the same, then we'll be on course to making a massive positive impact on our planet!