8 ways to make the most of January

Ahhhh, January. We meet again. So many people have a downer on January, but I'll let you in on a little secret - it's actually one of my favourite months. Sure, it's not as exciting as December or as full of hope as April, but it can be pretty ace in it's own way. I always find myself craving the quiet time and space that January brings after the hysteria of Christmas is over, and with less plans in the diary there's more room for spontaneity and going with the flow.

With most people back at work today and moaning about how this is the worst month ever, I thought I'd share with you 8 ways to make the most of January. Because if you change the way you think about it, I'm pretty sure you can enjoy this month as much as I intend on doing!

1) Have a pamper

If you're anything like me, you'll have received lots of lovely beauty bits and smellies for Christmas, and if you didn't, you can pick up loads of bargains in the sales! Take advantage of having more free time in January and pencil in lots of pamper time - long hot baths, at home facials and manicures in front of the telly. Bliss.

2) Get cooking

I'm not a huge fan of the whole January diet lark as it's usually pretty unsustainable, but what I do love about the new year is having enough time to get cooking again. After a whole month of eating out too much and consuming far too much chocolate it's so rewarding to eat home cooked food, and I always like trying new recipes out too. Let me know if you have any faves!

3) Catch up with all those boxsets

Is it just me, or is it totally impossible to keep up with all those "must see" boxsets? Just as I get all caught up on one, everyone's talking about something else! I love spending some lazy nights in front of the telly in January - this year we've got The OA and Designated Survivor on the list.

4) Get outdoors

I always think this is such a good time of year to get outside - especially when we get lovely crisp sunny days like we had yesterday! Find a local beauty spot and get yourself out for a nice long walk - it'll help you to feel less sluggish and the fresh air will give you a nice healthy glow too.

5) Save some money

One of my favourite things about January is that you can get so many great deals - bars and restaurants are offering hefty discounts and there are plenty of bargains to be had in the shops too. Treat yourself to a little weekend of fun and save some money in the process - win win.

6) Go to the cinema

I don't know why but there always seems to be a huge influx of great films in January - maybe it's because awards season is just around the corner? Either way, it's always a good time to go the cinema and come to think about it, January is probably the only month that we ever manage to fit a trip in. We were lucky enough to get some vouchers for Everyman cinema off my sister for Christmas so this is high on our agenda!

7) Sort your house out

One thing I really LOVE doing in January is pottering around the house and sorting all those little things out that you never get round to. I always end up having a massive declutter and rearranging bits and pieces to give the house a nice fresh feel. It's also tulip and daffodil season which is a good excuse to treat yourself to fresh flowers too.

8) Make plans for the year ahead

I've saved the most fun one until last! I love being organised and I don't think there is anything as exciting as making plans - whether it's pencilling in nights out with friends or getting a trip booked. There's no better feeling than getting your diary filled up with exciting things to look forward to.

So there you have it - 8 ways to make the most of January. Which one is your favourite? What else should I add to the list?