It’s arguably artificial: this mid-winter demarcation that we’ve crossed into a new year, much like a road sign announcing “Welcome to Delaware!” on an otherwise monotonous stretch of highway. Cold weather persists; the return to so-called normalcy is a ways off. But in fact this time of hibernation presents an ideal opportunity to introduce (or reinforce) a few good habits. With day-to-day life more narrowly defined, the hope is that any new improvements will loom larger, registering more clearly as reward. And if they linger in mind, could they just possibly linger in routine?
This is not a bid for rigid resolutions. Who among us can label another person’s coping mechanism a vice? Why turn down a delicious source of pleasure in favor of some wan healthful alternative? Instead, consider this seven-point list an excuse to invite more good things into the everyday. You’ll find tools for inside-and-out hydration alongside strategies to kick-start a lapsed workout regimen. There are ideas for retooling the home-office for well-being and the bedroom for sleep (and other brain-calming activities). This checklist is hardly comprehensive (we’ll save the Dolly Parton–worthy bath products for another day). Instead, it’s more of an easygoing reset. Here’s to a new year, a brighter work day, a solid night’s sleep.
1. Stay hydrated.
So much of the New Year’s narrative involves what not to drink. Instead, think about replenishment. Water makes up a solid 60 percent of the body, and that balance is perpetually subject to strain—due to perspiration, overactive heating systems, and, yes, those diuretics (coffee, alcohol) perhaps too good to give up. (To each their own.) Keeping the organs and nasal passages hydrated is good for the immune system; the same goes for skin, which is why so many dermatologists recommend a humidifier, such as this ultrasonic model. As for getting in your eight glasses, simple strategies help: A hand-blown carafe offers cheery encouragement; a sleek sparkling-water machine makes for elegant bubbles. And to curb the monotony, try Tomen’s suite of botanical tinctures, made in consultation with a sommelier. They’re as much plant medicine as they are a subtle palate pleaser.
2. Work in comfort.
A heartfelt congratulations to those who have managed to kit out a serene, ergonomically sound home-office this year. For the rest of us, it’s time to consider a WFH upgrade. A physical therapist would suggest starting with the spine—whether that’s investing in an Aeron chair, the 1994 classic engineered to support the back and limbs through desk work, or another solution that improves upon the hunched-laptop position. For those spiritually darkened by early sunsets (or the dread of a post-holiday inbox), an LED lamp for seasonal affective disorder brings in the sunshine, with a streamlined form evocative of the planets. A counterpoint to technology is also in order. A mail-order fern warms up the nest (and will similarly appreciate a humidifier). Meanwhile, the Nue Co.’s Forest Lungs fragrance aims to simulate a brain-clearing walk in the woods, using patented technology to recreate the feel-good phytochemicals exhaled by trees.
3. Tap the fungi kingdom.
The fanfare around the mushroom world continues to bloom, as the various phytonutrients and immune-boosting benefits continue to shape conversation. Now, they come in even more upbeat, delicious forms. Rainbo, run by holistic nutritionist Tonya Papanikolov, recently launched targeted, single-mushroom tinctures—from mood-balancing reishi to antioxidant-rich chaga. The new functional-beverage line Earth & Star pairs mushroom blends with oat milk for an instant refresh; the ceremonial-grade matcha version, with shiitake and turkey tail mushrooms, is a morning eye-opener. Abbe Findley, the herbalist behind Zizia, serves up cordyceps, reishi, and other varieties in her Mushroom Mesquite powder—stirred into a warm drink, it’s a nutty-sweet pick-me-up. For the culinary-minded, homegrown mushrooms (blue oyster or fuzzy lion’s mane) arrive via Smallhold’s kits. Regular misting in exchange for a countertop harvest: sold.
4. Reset your skin.
It’s the season for getting back to basics, skin care included. With drier weather comes a counterintuitive need for regular exfoliation. However much a healthy skin barrier is key to keeping moisture in and aggressors out, an excess of dead skin cells at the surface can be a roadblock for beneficial skin-care agents. An exfoliating toner like Augustinus Bader’s—with gentle hydroxy acids to refine the surface texture, along with soothing botanicals—is a good nightly ritual. Dr. Dennis Gross’s new exfoliating pads for the body keep the neck-down territory in check (twice weekly is recommended). Next comes moisture. Superegg—Erica Choi’s newly launched skin-care startup, which replicates the beneficial components of the egg using plant-based ingredients—delivers nourishment without irritation via its Sound Renewal cream; the round vessel is a nod to its Yolk Duplex technology. And for hydration with ceremony, Sisley’s body cream blends shea butter with heady saffron-flower extract.
5. Streamline home workouts.
It’s the January cliché, to talk about fitness—but probably everyone except the Peloton diehards could use a reboot. If our collective well-being suffered less from holiday excess this year, it continues to feel the weight of this simulated long-haul flight, which has us pottering about the cabin to “stretch our legs” and not much more. The recent launch of Apple Fitness+ ($10 per month) is a sleek means of shaking things up, with a breadth of mat-based sessions alongside cycling and treadmill workouts, all synched with the brand’s devices. (A new Apple Watch comes with three months free.) Maybe you miss the communal feel and errant car horns from your usual yoga class? That’s where Sky Ting TV ($20 per month) comes into play, with a mix of live and prerecorded classes from the good-vibes New York studio. Outdoor activities—wise if grueling—call for thermal leggings, while an LED jump rope perks up an early-morning (or late-night) round of cardio.
6. Feel good in your body.
If taking care of yourself at home is the ongoing imperative, let that translate to the full spectrum of sensations. That might include a CBD oil by Common Bond, designed to pique the erogenous zones; or a sleek vibrator by Maude, which recently announced Dakota Johnson as its co-creative director. Sensuality just as easily arrives by way of a sustainable cashmere bralette by the wellness-minded brand Live the Process—an elevated piece to accompany a morning cycle of cat-cow poses. And for a mellow evening, there is Rose Los Angeles’s take on Turkish delights. This batch, created with chef Nicole Rucker, incorporates organic apricots and lemon verbena from a family farm in Santa Cruz, along with 5 mg of CBD rosin. (Californians can seek out the brand’s THC variations for a deeper unwind.)
7. Set the stage for sleep.
The implications of a good night’s rest run deep. It’s a crucial period for the production of human growth hormone and new cells; a healthy circadian rhythm helps keep hormones in check and cognitive performance running smoothly. It all underscores how important it is to refine the nighttime routine. Loftie’s new multifunctional alarm clock is designed to take smartphones out of the bedroom, with features like breathwork exercises and white noise to quiet the mind. Bodha’s cashmere eye pillow, filled with lavender and chamomile, quiets the visual frame; Renne’s Full Moon sleep tincture, with a heavy-duty dose of CBD alongside tulsi and vanilla bean, aims to do the same from the inside-out. And for the proverbial beauty sleep, there’s Odacité’s night cream. Pale pink from pomegranate, the formula includes tested antioxidants (vitamin C, CoQ10) and potent botanicals (blue-green algae, ashwagandha) to carry you through till morning.
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