Free stuff you can do that feels productive and self-improvey in bleak January

Yes, it's a listicle, what of it?

by Claire

• Take all your makeup out, wash your make up bag/storage, get rid of old dry crud. Wipe the gummy lids of things. Clean your brushes, put it all back.

• Spend a few days just drinking loads of water in a borderline competitive way

• Have a hot bath, file off all your hard skin, clip your toenails and apply a coat of polish

• Put tinfoil around a tunnelled candle to bring it back to life

• List three things on Vinted

• Take some old dusty green tea bags from the cupboard and brew them briefly then freeze them. Use them under your eyes to de-puff

• Do a mad YouTube facial massage (like this one)

• Tidy up and dye your eyebrows. I have recently discovered that you can do this with Just for Men, which is cheaper and pre mixed. Obviously, proceed with caution.

• Throw away all your old shit knickers and fold your ok ones neatly.

• Ditto socks

• Ditto bras

• Clean your jewellery with a toothbrush in warm water

• Go through all your stagnant WhatsApp messages and call your mates/reply to your friends

• Write a couple of cards/postcards and send them. Silly ones, no drama.

• Rearrange all your apps, tidy up your inbox, delete extraneous pictures from your phone

• Do an inventory of your freezer and figure out how to cook the contents over the next couple of weeks

• Get a cookbook you already own and challenge yourself to make 2-3 things from it over the next month

• Make yourself a budget (try YNAB)

• Take one tiny part of your home that is a nightmare organisationally and tidy it up. Something small is key, don’t pull our your entire wardrobe if you’re feeling tender.

• Put three outfits together for the week ahead and pre hang them. Iron or steam them for extra satisfaction

• Make a shopping wishlist. When my toddler asks for stuff, instead of saying no, I say it’s ‘going on the list’. This works for me too, it turns out. Next time someone asks you what you want for your birthday you will know.

• Floss your teeth lovingly and thoroughly

• Lie down and listen to a guided meditation

• Do some random yoga stretches. I find yoga classes boring, but I can remember enough of the moves to sort of freestyle them. Bonus: you can have a cup of coffee and watch telly while you do it.

• Think of someone in your past that has wronged you, who lives in your head rent free. Decide to let go and forgive them. This still works if you do it in a condescending sort of way.

• Put all the forks, knives and spoons away in the right bits of the drawer.

• Do ONE heinous piece of admin you have been putting off and give yourself an egregious treat afterwards.

• Make some granola (like this one) and feel smug every morning having it in a lovely bowl with some greek yogurt and fruit.

• Be very easy on yourself, we are all exhausted, everything is expensive and is is extremely cold.

Any more suggestions very welcome of course, please leave a comment.

Normal service resumes soon here at the Trowel, back in your inbox with a proper article next week. Happy new year!