New year, New Intentions: A Guide to At-Home Wellness Rituals
Influencer Jess Bantleman's (@jessbantleman) guide to re-thinking New Year wellness through softness, intention, and rituals that meet you where you are.
As one year draws to a close and January makes its presence known, everyone welcomes the the change differently. For some, it’s a signal to reset; to throw themselves into new routines, fresh energy and a faster pace, creating a list of goals for the months ahead. For others - myself included - January feels better suited to softness, continuing the slow pace of living that winter presents us with.
Written By: Jess Bantleman - Published: 22.01.26
There’s a lot of pressure to find your feet in January and to map out who you’ll be for the rest of the year before the month is even over. But the person I want to be most in January is a homebody. Taking time for myself as the first weeks of the year unfold, to focus on setting intentions and indulging in the ultimate forms of self-care from the comfort of inside my own four walls.
That said, I do love the feeling of a fresh start and a new routine, one that doesn’t involve pressure or too many to-dos. One that celebrates the small moments instead of stacking up to-do lists. January, to me, is the perfect time to romanticise the everyday. Simple rituals have a way of transforming the ordinary and there’s a few things I like to do to elevate the little moments in my day at this time of year. Things like lighting a candle on your work from home day, rather than saving it for a special occasion (the Biba Fig and Jasmine candles filled my home with a beautiful scent all day that got me feeling excited for spring) or switching to your favourite bedsheets on a Sunday night to set the tone for a cosy week ahead. I always put music on during the day whether it’s the weekend or workday; something unobtrusive like a Coffee shop playlist, or some jazz, helps to keep my space feeling creative and inspirational.
I love fashion at this time of year too. There’s so much fun in layering soft knits like this Ganni Wool jumper with dark denim, and even taking inspiration from the colour palette of winter into your wardrobe, from outerwear to athleisure. I love the berry colourway that Sweaty Betty does, and it feels like butter on your skin. Everyone always feels more motivated to move when there’s a cute matching set involved - I don’t make the rules! Workouts during January are less about pushing myself, and more about staying connected to my body in a way that respects my energy during the colder months.
As someone whose energy is really determined by the weather outside, for me, the first hour or so of my day really sets the tone for having more control over how I feel during the colder, darker months, and I try to prioritise my morning routine to set me up for the best day possible. I always do my skincare in the morning, and love products that work to revitalise tired skin, like the Charlotte Tilbury magic Hydrator Mist which is great all year round. For winter, I gravitate towards products that keep my skin - which is prone to dullness and dryness - feeling moisturised. I love the Clarins Double Serum to boost and brighten, followed by the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Cream which I leave on overnight.
I try not to scroll on my phone as soon as I wake up, and on the weekends when I don’t need an alarm set, I leave my phone downstairs. Instead, I always have my kindle, notepad or my journal next to my bed. This allows me to read through my latest book, set intentions or write down notes that have been sitting in my brain. I always find that on the days where I don’t need to be on my phone or laptop too much, my brain and overall mood feels much brighter, so it’s something I’m really prioritising this year. I love coffee, but I know my body doesn’t respond well to drinking it first thing. I’ll have an iced matcha or hot tea with my breakfast or while I’m winding down post-workout as a slow caffeine release, and I take my supplements with a big glass of water. That way, I can save my coffee for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Food plays a big role in my sense of wellbeing and I love to cook. Breakfast is usually simple, yoghurt, fruit, seeds or granola, something nourishing that keeps me full until lunch. The ritual of cooking dinner however, is something I really look forward to. Lighting a candle, putting on music, and fully switching off while I cook is one of my favourite parts of the day. The kitchen really is my happy place, and where I can play around with different ingredients to make nutritious, hearty meals throughout all the seasons. But nothing beats a comforting homemade pie in winter.
Having two dogs, even if they are sausage dogs and deeply unimpressed by rain, means that I go outside for a walk every day, whatever the weather. I’m so fortunate to have a beautiful wooded common near my house where the dogs can run around, and I can get some steps in to break up my day, give my brain a bit of a reset and take a step away from the laptop on a work day. Even taking a hot drink into the garden for some moments of fresh air makes such a difference.I love going for an afternoon walk after lunch, and listening to my music on an audiobook. As a winter baby (hello, February birthday), I’ve learned to romanticise and really lean into the season and get excited for frost-covered mornings, misty paths, even the occasional snowfall. Every season I make a playlist of music that reminds me of that time, and I love listening to this on my walks. I always come back feeling refreshed, inspired, even if it is chucking it down outside.
Outerwear matters at this time of year, as it’s the thing you wear the most often. The Kennedy Showerproof Jacket from Barbour is a staple. It’s practical enough for sudden drizzle, but chic enough to wear with trainers (New Balance, always) or loafers while running errands. I’m equally devoted to the Coach Lana bag all year round, it’s roomy enough for my Kindle, notebook and headphones, and versatile enough to carry me through any day, any season.
One thing’s for certain, is that winter, when the days become dark at 4pm, and the heating gets turned on, is the perfect backdrop for at-home wellness rituals. Hot baths or showers, cosy loungewear, a film or a book to wind down, these moments are fleeting, and all too easily replaced by the busyness of spring and summer. I try to savour them while they’re here. To embrace being a homebody, and to notice the quiet pockets of calm throughout the day while making the most of all the relaxation this season has to offer.
I know by now that there will be a different version of me during every month of this year, and each of those versions will have different goals, focuses and energy. I don’t want to dismiss all of those possibilities that unfold, by creating a plan for the year that doesn’t allow room to grow and change. January me will be different to June me, and will be very different to December me. Leaving space for those versions to emerge feels far kinder than locking myself into a plan that doesn’t allow room to grow, and I think we should all try and do the same.
If there’s one thing I know about January, it’s that having a year to unfold in front of you, in so many ways, is the greatest gift. Don’t rush through it and treat wellness as a box to tick this month in order to have your best year yet. Instead, focus on consistency, on resetting your space and your mindset, and on finding small, sustainable ways to make wellbeing work for you, day to day so you continue to feel your best throughout the entire year. After all, we have a whole year of possibilities ahead of us, and the best days haven’t even started yet, so I for one will be conserving all the energy I can to soak up every moment.