Take on the new year with a motivational reboot or hibernate. We can help with both

"In one camp are the new year, new routine fanatics, the people you'll find smashing a 6am workout, clutching a protein shake (the clear, pea isolate ones that are almost like a protein squash have been brilliant for me) and claiming, with suspicious enthusiasm, that they love the feeling of their lungs burning in winter air. And honestly? Good for them. A reset can feel energising, and the right fitness tech, supplements and morning rituals can make this commitment easier and more appealing."

"However, equally persuasive — and, I'd argue, just as productive — is the counter-movement: the cosy, analogue, sofa enthusiasts. The people treating winter as nature intended: a time to hibernate and recalibrate. This isn't laziness, it's strategic restoration. The kind your nervous system actually needs after a year that felt like collective whiplash. Think silk pillowcases, weighted blankets and chai that feels like a hug in a mug."

January can feel awkward for reinvention because of cold, darkness, financial strain, and low serotonin. One approach emphasizes intense self-improvement: early workouts, protein shakes, fitness tech, supplements, and morning rituals to create structure, momentum, and the promise of a fresh start. An opposing approach emphasizes deliberate restoration: hibernation, analogue comforts, silk pillowcases, weighted blankets, and comforting chai to recalibrate the nervous system. Both approaches function as valid forms of productive self-care. Combining active mornings with restorative evenings can create balance as the line between self-improvement and self-preservation becomes more fluid.

Read at www.theguardian.com