Damp January

Perhaps I’m the last to know but I’ll be totally honest and admit that I recently heard the term “damp January”. I fell in love with it. Mainly, because it takes the pressure off of the concept of “dry January” or even any diet-related restrictions that are popular with the start of each New Year.

The best part of this term is that it reflects flexibility. And, subsequently, it translates into a broad sense of kindness to oneself. Perhaps I’m over-thinking and taking it too far but I can speak for myself when I say that January adds PRESSURE. Pressure to starts a new routine, a new diet or simply….to be better. Which is fine, of course. I mean, I try to be better each and every day. But the pressure to follow a strict diet or give up things that bring you happiness or pleasure can be too intense and it seems to weigh heaviest in January with the start of a new calendar year. It can also lead to feelings of guilt or inadequacy if we don’t live up to the invisible bar we’ve set for ourselves.

So the term “damp January” really spoke to me - in a way that translated to it’s okay to do what you want. Eat and drink what you like. Everything in moderation, of course.

Ultimately, it’s a way to be kind to yourself.

Whether you partake in dry January, damp January or neither, being kind to ourselves is something we can all benefit from practicing.