Problem Solvers

Boycott resolutions with our tips for living happily this January

If you spent the last days of the year listing reams of abstract resolutions, only to know that you’ll struggle to keep some (or one) for much more than a matter of days, we’re encouraging you to avoid the same trap and make small, tiny changes that have a big impact on health and wellbeing. 

So rather than setting yourself unachievable goals – many of which have a negative spin (who’s promised themselves they’ll ‘spend less’ or ‘lose weight’??) – why not try to enrich every day with something guaranteed to bring the ‘feel good’ factor? Now’s the perfect time to invest in those supplements you read about, or indulge in a special body wash to make your shower like a spa…

If you’re stuck for ideas we’ve compiled some suggestions – from switching your mid-morning caffeine fix, to committing to an early night to help ensure you get your full eight hours, our {blog} overfloweth with much-needed ‘chillspo’ to help ease the post-Christmas come down.

And you needn’t spend a fortune! Hold off on buying those sleek running shoes and that branded athleisure (we’ve all fallen into that trap at some stage) and instead, try to set yourself ‘bite size’ goals. If you want to feel fitter then why not enrol in a class, go for a jog, or find a free yoga app to see which style of workout suits you and your lifestyle? Set yourself a target and reward yourself when you achieve it – you’ll value those snazzy new sports tights much more if they represent three weeks of sweat! 

Or why not dispense with the usual, common-or-garden ‘new year new me’ philosophy (we quite like the ‘old us’ thank YOU very much) and instead, make time to actually do the things you love doing the most. If you’re a frustrated painter, then diarise time to practise your sketching skills, or if you long to be the next ‘Great British Baker’ then dedicate a night a week to making cakes (remember, these are promises not punishments!). 

It’s all about ‘taking a moment’… reminding yourself about what makes you you, and remembering to take your foot off the accelerator every now and then to simply revel in some stillness and allow your mind and body to recalibrate. Life is often overwhelming but a hot bath has the knack of making everything much better (especially when laced with Roques-O’Neil’s pink {Himalayan Detox Salts}) and whether you find five minutes or have the luxury of five long, languid hours, we’re here to help you make those moments count.

So, whether you’re vowing to carve out some digital downtime (hear hear!), or trying to savour the book stack you’ve longingly left by your bedside, embrace pen and paper (see? digital downtime) to outline all your favourite pastimes. Free time is scarce and to be cherished so make sure you’re spending yours on all the people and pursuits that matter most.

And check out the site and the blog for a swathe of new supplements, elixirs and intensive treatment masks (we’re all about the pampering), as well as interviews with specialists from several different fields with tips and tricks for lifting spirits, enhancing energy and restoring joie de vivre. Here’s to a magical 2020!

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Verity Douglas

Verity Douglas

Content Editor

Cult Beauty’s Content Editor and a Cult Beauty OG, Verity loves nothing more than the marriage of language and lip balm. A quintessential Libran, she’s a self-professed magpie for luxury ‘must-haves' and always pursuing the new and the niche — from the boujee-est skin care to cutting-edge tech. Balancing an urge to stop the clock with her desire to embrace the ageing process (and set a positive example for her daughter), Verity's a retinol obsessive and will gladly share her thoughts about the time-defying gadgets, masks and treatments worth the splurge...