For quite a few years I’ve felt that January is not the right time for my new year refresh. It’s still the middle of winter, the natural world is dormant and the days are dark and short. Nature doesn’t come to life until spring, so setting ambitious goals and trying to start new routines really goes against the grain. What feels far more instinctive at that time of year is slowing down, leaning into cosy evenings, gentle rhythms and seasonal hibernation.
Now all of a sudden, as green shoots appear and the days grow lighter, there’s a renewed sense of energy in the air. With the spring equinox on the horizon, March feels much more like a true beginning to the year. I am naturally feeling motivated to reset, build new habits and bring fresh life into my home and routines. Instead of forcing a January overhaul, this year I’m embracing a spring reset, and sharing the simple ways I’m refreshing my home, habits and garden for the months ahead.
A Fresh Friday Afternoon Routine
During January and February I settled into a lovely little Friday ritual. I finish work at lunchtime, so the afternoon would begin with walking Nellie in the local park (rain or shine). Afterwards I’d come home, bake some treats (often trying a new or seasonal recipe), and then snuggle up in bed to watch a cosy period drama. It was the perfect rhythm for dark winter days.
But lately I’ve felt the shift into spring. I’m taking Nellie on longer walks in the spring sunshine, often exploring new places and enjoying spotting the first spring bulbs popping up. It’s great to get the extra steps in! Then when I get home, rather than curling up under a blanket, I feel the urge to do something productive, tackling a bit of spring cleaning or a small home improvement project.
Embracing Healthy Eating Habits
It doesn’t feel natural to me at all to start restricting calories or treats in January, right in the middle of winter. (Plus, I was enjoying my Friday bakes too much!) But now I am in the mood to try out fresh and healthy new recipes and get into a new eating routine. I’m still not particularly interested in strict calorie counting, but I am trying to make healthier choices, swap in better options where I can, and generally snack a little less.
Spring Clean
I actually started my spring home refresh in the darker winter months by decluttering. I sorted through the bathroom cupboards to make space for new Christmas gifts, and tackled the kitchen cupboards too – right down to refreshing the spices! That process has carried on into March, but now it’s shifting into more of a spring clean. I’ll be deep-cleaning key rooms, brushing and freshening the hall and stairs carpet, wiping down the kitchen cupboards inside and out, cleaning the windows and tackling stained grout. It feels a bit like opening the doors after a long period of hibernation.
Garden Spruce Up
The garden is starting to wake up! It’s time to mow the lawn again, and the spring bulbs I planted way back in October are finally appearing, adding little bursts of colour to pots and borders. Over the next few weeks I’ll start getting everything ready for the warmer months ahead – jet washing the paths, planting summer perennials, trimming back the dead winter growth, and bringing out the garden furniture. It feels like the outdoor version of my spring reset, getting everything fresh and ready for the season ahead.
Small Home Improvements
I’m also making some plans for the house, starting with a low-cost kitchen refresh. No major renovations – no ripping out cupboards or rebuilding – just giving the space a fresh new colour palette, adding some beautiful tiles, and finishing it off with a few thoughtful touches. Next on the list is boarding out the loft, creating much-needed storage in preparation for our future bedroom project. Alongside the bigger tasks, I’ve got smaller DIY jobs lined up, like varnishing doors and fitting new blinds in the living room. Suddenly, my home improvement to-do list feels exciting, and I’m very motivated to get started!
Embracing Seasonal Living and Hobbies
I recently subscribed to The Simple Things magazine, and it perfectly captures how I feel about slowing down and living more intentionally. The seasonal inspiration it offers has brought me so much joy and has sparked a renewed sense of creativity. I’m making time for hobbies that truly excite me – borrowing library books I’m eager to read, flexing my writing muscles with exercises from a new workbook, and practising drawing and painting spring flowers in my sketchbook. Now that I’m finally shaking off my winter cough, I’m even ready to sign up for my favourite dance class again!
After months of winter hibernation, spring really does feel like the natural time to hit refresh. With longer days and green shoots everywhere, I’m embracing new routines, small home updates, and creative projects that make life feel brighter!
English Rose from Manchester's Blog 