Yes, I know it’s only October, but hear me out: January has a reputation for demanding a complete reinvention. New routine, new wardrobe, new diet, colour-coded planner — all before the Christmas tree has made it back into the loft. And I’m not convinced any of that is necessary. A reset can simply mean changing the scenery or doing something that wakes you up a bit. If the usual spa weekend feels too predictable, these ideas offer fresh air, adventure and enough comfort to make January worth enjoying rather than enduring – and what better time to plan them than now?

1. Swap the treatment room for the mountains

There is something very effective about going somewhere that looks and feels completely different from home. Snowy villages and clear mountain air certainly qualify. A ski holiday gives January its own purpose: you aren’t waiting for spring; you are making the most of winter while it is here! It works whether you want to be first on the lift or would rather take a lesson, stop for a long lunch and enjoy the scenery without turning the week into an endurance test. The reset comes from the rhythm of it all, with far less opportunity to spend three hours scrolling on your phone. 

If you are new to it, choose somewhere with beginner-friendly runs and lessons rather than the most glamorous resort on the map. Give yourself time to learn, pack good layers and leave room for a slower afternoon. It is still a holiday, not a school PE lesson! Before travelling, the FCDO’s winter sports guidance is worth a look, particularly its advice to check that your insurance covers your planned activities and to understand any exclusions.

2. Take yourself on a one-day mini adventure

A reset doesn’t have to involve an airport, annual leave or an overnight bag. Pick one January day, block it out and behave as though you have arrived somewhere new. Start with coffee in a cafe you have never tried, visit a gallery or museum, take a walk, order lunch at the bar and finish somewhere with a view! The point is not to squeeze in as much as possible, but to break the usual home-work-supermarket loop. This works especially well alone because nobody else can derail the plan or announce that they don’t fancy the restaurant you picked.

If going out solo still feels daunting, my 7-day solo challenge has easy ideas to build confidence, from a coffee walk to being a tourist in your own city. Newcastle is ideal for this sort of day: begin around Ouseburn or the Quayside, choose an exhibition, then head towards the coast for a late walk and something good to eat. Wherever you live, choose one area, make two loose bookings at most and leave space to wander. January plans often fail because they are too ambitious; a small day that happens is far more satisfying than a perfect itinerary sitting in your Notes app.

3. Make winter walks your new social plan

The third idea is the simplest, cheapest and easiest to repeat: replace one indoor catch-up each week with a proper winter walk. Invite a friend, take the dog or go alone, then add a cafe or pub afterwards so it still feels like a plan rather than compulsory exercise. Coastal paths are particularly good in January because the weather makes them feel quite dramatic, and you don’t need to hike for hours to come home refreshed.

The North East is spoilt for choice, from Tynemouth and Whitley Bay to the beaches and castle views further north; my guide to North East walks for Boxing and New Year’s Day is full of routes that work beyond the festive week too. 

There is reassuring evidence behind the idea. Natural England noted that regular time in green and blue spaces can support physical and mental wellbeing, making a walk by the sea, through woodland or around a local park a sensible January habit. Keep it easy enough that you will do it again: check the weather, wear shoes you do not mind getting muddy, pack a hot drink and pick somewhere with a rewarding stop at the end. Nobody is more motivated by a bleak car park than by the promise of chips, cake or a fireside pint.