When the new year rolls around we tend to feel we need to make a big change for the better. However, focusing on a large change or a difficult one may be too much all at once. Sometimes, focusing on smaller, positive mini-resolutions is a much more effective way to get that fresh start feeling—and run with it past the first ten days of January!
Have you ever thought about how many resolutions are broken and why? Perhaps the goals are too lofty. On the other end of the spectrum are those that aren’t meaningful enough to keep. Maybe they focus too much on negative behavior and are too large to manage all at once? Let’s look at some common resolutions: lose weight, make more money, be a nicer person, spend more time with family… sound familiar?
How many of these lofty goals have you or your close ones ever managed to meet? I’m sure we all know the answer—few if any. One reason is that these goals are too big and focus on the premise that you’re doing something wrong to begin with. Change can be daunting and difficult when we don’t even know where to start. Why not look for a positive change in smaller, easily measurable increments? Also, not concentrating solely on one aspect of ourselves tends to spread the good around. Many smaller, specific wins lead to a sense of accomplishment and to lasting change.
As an example, let’s look at the evergreen “I want to lead a healthier lifestyle” goal. Who among us hasn’t set this as our objective at some time or another… or perhaps every year? Let’s take this objective apart. There are many components to a healthy lifestyle—including but not limited to fitness, nutrition, mindfulness, kindness, activity, family time, education, vocation, worklife, and homelife. Basically, a healthy lifestyle is multifaceted. Now take a deeper look at what it is about this goal that is particularly important to you. Break it down into several small, specific, quantifiable mini-goals you’d like to focus on in each area. If you decide to focus on fitness and activity, for example, don’t just say, “I’m going to the gym five days a week” if you hardly ever go now. Be realistic about your actual likes, dislikes, motivators, and deterrents—instead of what you think you should like or be motivated by. Hating the gym is not incompatible with getting fit! Look at what you enjoy doing for fitness and come up with a strategy that works for you. If you enjoy being outdoors, tailor your workout goals to include hiking, swimming, or skiing. If you’re more motivated to exercise in a group, sign up for some team fitness classes,pilates,yoga—the possibilities are endless!
Speaking of compatibility, another technique we love is to pair goals together so we’re able to work on and make progress in multiple areas at once. For example, a healthy lifestyle involves fitness and eating well, so make a resolution about finding and sharing nutritious seasonal recipes with family and friends. Make a plan for getting together to prepare a lunch or try out some new recipes together this winter.
Do you want to carve out more time for being mindful? Organize a yoga day or meditation retreat with friends. We all need support from time to time. Staying in touch not only with your feelings but with the mental health of those who matter most around you will help you spread healthy living to your family, friends, and beyond. This is the concept on which we founded partager la joie—the idea that joy comes in many forms and the more we do to welcome joy, the more we are able to share it with all the special people in our lives.
If you find joy in what you do and focus on doing something that makes you happy, you’ll find more success doing it. The big takeaway here is to concentrate on the positive and customize your goals to meet your lifestyle. So as you transition into 2022, think about how you’d like to make small, positive edits in your life and share the goodness around you—and we’re sure you’ll find success, not only this new year but for many years to come.
Our Winter Epicure
As we turn a new leaf to January we like our menus to be bright, vibrant, and packed with nutrition. After the rich fare of the holidays we can’t get enough citrus accents and hearty, healthy vegetables! A warm glass of lemon water or a delicious green juice with ginger and lemon is a great way to start the day with an extra serving of immune-boosting freshness.
Chilly days mean—it’s soup season! For winter weeknights, soups and stews are ideal and comforting. Keeping them light and fresh creates a welcome balance, and the variety is endless! Classic chicken, roasted vegetable minestrone, coconut curry with butternut squash, lentil and spinach… Planning a special weekend meal? Try our roasted chicken with root vegetables, slow cooker bolognese sauce, or a bright stir fry with ginger, shrimp and snap peas—all sure and nourishing ways to delight family and friends.
Let’s Do Brunch—Sunday and brunch have become synonymous at PLJ. Whether we’re gathering at home to relax and be cozy by a fire, meeting to catch up at a favorite spot, or out in the salty air on a winter escapade, we’re all in for this winter weekend ritual.
We have plenty of inspiration for brunch in our epicure and we’d love to hear about your own creations. Tag us in your next recipe post so we can share your joy with our readers!
Epicure
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
Eggs Benedict
Belgian Waffles
Crepes
Simply Sweet Scones
Grapefruit Bellini
Green Juice
Ginger Tea
Roasted Minestrone
Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup
Carrot Ginger Soup
Stir Fry with Ginger, Shrimp and Snap Peas
Crunchy Kale and Brussel Sprout Salad
Turmeric Latte
Banana Pineapple Smoothie
Energize your Environment
January’s new beginnings mark the perfect moment to exfoliate and declutter—your mind, body, soul, and home!
Refresh your skin
Exfoliation is one of our favorite traditions to ring in the new year. We love scheduling a spa treatment for a combination body exfoliation and massage—the perfect way to rejuvenate and set the tone for wellness through the new year. Making your own body scrub to keep in your shower is also a wonderful way to refresh your skin a few times a week. Simply mix coconut oil, lemon oil, and coarse salt in a glass jar…
Invigorate your senses
If you don’t already use a diffuser to add a bit of aromatherapy to your home, especially during the winter months, you’ll soon be hooked. If it’s calm you want, add a few drops of lavender essential oil. For an invigorating lift, try citrus oil and a few drops of eucalyptus. Eucalyptus essential oil also works like a charm if you are experiencing any cold symptoms. We’ve sourced a variety of fragrant citrus, lavender, and eucalyptus essential oils for our simple roll-on perfumes, body oils, and bath salts. Shop our wellness collection
Lighten up your home
The start of a new year is the ideal time to declutter your closets, pantry, and other indoor spaces. Give yourself a fresh start and contribute to a worthy cause by donating clothes, coats, and any gently used items that have been taking up space in your closet. This is a great way to get a jumpstart on that “doing good” resolution you might have made. Restocking your pantry with nutritious items is also a step in the right direction toward your healthy lifestyle goals.
Our Winter Design Notes
At partager la joie, January is all about letting life bloom at its own pace by keeping things simple, clean, and streamlined. Once you pack away your holiday decor, take some time to organize your living space. At this time of year we love crisp new linens and soft, neutral textured throw blankets. Use simple greens like eucalyptus or lemon leaf in your vases, a cluster of winter branches like birch, or a simple blooming branch added to a large container in a foyer or kitchen island. Filling a decorative bowl with lemons, clementines, or other citrus varieties adds a bit of refreshing energy to your kitchen. Monochromatic flower arrangements in your living spaces let your personal style blossom. Fresh scented candles, such as Juniper and Lavender or Amber, warm your soul with a clean, earthy fragrance. Relax and enjoy a lazy afternoon by the fire with a great book or your journal and keep cozy in our super soft berber loungewear. Shop partager la joie
For table settings and flowers, stay with a design palette that’s simple, white, and bright. Winter bulbs and plants, simple flowering or birch branches, and sprigs of greens are really all you need to create a winter tablescape. Mix in assorted vases with your favorite pastel flowers or blooms to welcome freshness and new life to the table, and accent with votives and candles to bring light into the short winter days. Shop our home collection
Cherish the Past, Embrace the Future, and Let Today Bloom
One thing we’ve learned for sure over the past few years is that our world is continually changing. Some things may be beyond our control, but we can have a positive impact on that change by focusing our efforts on taking good care of ourselves and each other.
Let January serve as your reset. Take the opportunity to edit your lifestyle routine and your home space. Set small, easily quantified goals for yourself and revel in how positive you feel when you notice your progress. Keep your perspective on savoring every joyful moment as it comes, one day at a time🤍
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