This Month in London: January Edition

Reflections on 2024, intentions for the year ahead, and embracing London's coldest month

Hello from London!

December passed by in a whirlwind, with only 11 days spent in London between a Christmas market adventure in Belgium and quality time spent with family in the States. Now that I’m back in London and gradually conquering jet lag, I'm finding some rhythm again after three weeks away from my usual routine.

As we settle into January, I'll be focusing both on embracing what London has to offer and mindfully setting intentions for the year ahead. For those who, like me, just recently purchased their 2025 planner and are beginning to think about this year, you're in good company - and it’s not too late. Let's make a pact to be kinder to ourselves, okay?

A key intention I've set for 2025 is to find more joy in the journey rather than fixating on the outcome. My focus is shifting toward aligned action, releasing self-imposed pressure, reducing the constant sense of urgency and the worry of never doing enough, and creating more mental space in my daily life.

2024 was filled with wonderful experiences—enriching travel, precious time with loved ones, and valuable lessons. Yet beneath these visible highlights lay a deeper, ongoing commitment to improving my mental and physical wellbeing. I spent much of the year feeling directionless, depleted, and disconnected from my why. In many ways, I found myself returning to the basics, and turning inward, which proved transformative. By the end of the year, the fog began to lift, thanks to the intentional steps toward finding clarity and balance.

2025 Intentions

If traditional resolutions or goal setting feel overwhelming (and they often do for many of us), setting intentions for the year might be more approachable. Intentions can take many forms: they might be feelings you want to cultivate, themes you'd like to explore, or realistic changes that align with your values.

I've found that focusing on intentions; adding/maintaining new habits and experiences, resonates more deeply with me than traditional resolutions that I feel often center on restriction or elimination. Intention setting helps big goals feel attainable and can create a snowball effect of positive action. Of course, this approach isn’t for everyone and if resolutions work for you and it ain’t broke, no need to fix it!

If you want to try this but aren’t sure where to start, here is the process I followed to set my 2025 intentions:

To start this exercise, I reviewed last year month by month, jotting down key moments with the help of my camera roll and journal. I then categorized these into Highlights and Challenges. To reflect on my personal growth - even in a year where I didn’t feel I had accomplished many tangible goals - I added a Growth section, noting both big and small shifts I’d experienced. This helped me realize that, despite my doubts, I had grown, learned, and accomplished more than I thought.

Next, I did a goal brainstorm in my new planner, listing everything I could work toward this year to align with my vision. Let yourself dream big here, it can be anything and everything. The goal (no pun intended) is simply to get all your ideas out of your head. From there, I identified the goals that mattered most to me and used them to shape my intentions.

Finally, I’ll be working on finishing my 2025 vision board this week (using Canva) and setting it as the background on my computer to keep my aspirations front and center.

With that, here are a few of the intentions I’ll be focusing on this year:

1. Take advantage of more of what London has to offer. This includes trying more spots in my local community; a reminder that a sense of exploration doesn’t need to mean getting on a plane or spending a lot of money. I tend to venture outside of my neighborhood for dining out, fitness, entertainment, etc. but I want to support more of the great local businesses nearby. I touched on this a bit in yesterday’s Instagram post.

2. Travel to new places. I’ve traveled Europe and the US extensively and this year, I want to experience some other parts of the world. On my travel wishlist for this year is Japan, Sicily, and Morocco. Already booked for 2025: Cape Town, South Africa, and Madeira, Portugal!

3. Continue deepening my relationships. Building a community from scratch after moving abroad has been one of my greatest challenges. I'm focused on nurturing both my London connections and relationships back home by showing up for the people in my life, no matter where in the world they are. I saw this video recently that stuck with me: ‘connection isn’t about time, it’s about intention.’

4. Express myself authentically. Letting go of judgment fears and staying curious and open to what may unfold. Releasing the need for things to be perfect in order to get started. Leaning fully into this space that I’ve been hesitant to embrace for years. By putting myself out there more, I hope to inspire others to deepen their relationships, with themselves and the people around them, and to show up in ways that feel true to who they are. Here’s to all of us letting go of whatever’s been holding us back from going after what we truly want.

If you’re open to share one of your intentions, feel free to comment below and let’s hold each other accountable!

Speaking of exploring more of London, let's dive into what this incredible city has to offer in January. Admittedly, January is not London’s best month, but we’re doing our best to stay positive and ease the seasonal blues this year.

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January in London

Practically speaking, expect short days, temperatures around 32°F (0°C) to 46°F (8°C), and the classic British overcast, damp weather. It generally remains above freezing and the occasional milder day helps break up the cold. Coming from New England winters, I've actually found London's milder winters to be a welcome change.

Now that we've covered the weather, let's dive into the ways you can experience London this January. There's so much to discover, even in the winter months.

Indoor Adventures

• Catch a movie at one of London’s unique cinemas: Everyman offers a fun viewing experience while both Electric Cinema and Curzon have been on my list

• Immerse yourself in London’s vibrant (and affordable) theater scene with a West End show

• Explore exhibitions at London’s world-class museums and galleries

• Try new flavors at a food market: Borough Market, Spitalfields, Seven Dials, Mercato Mayfair (housed in an old cathedral!) and Camden Market (don’t miss the new Hawley Wharf section) are all fully or partially indoors and the legendary Harrod’s Food Halls are worth a visit

Wellness

• Relax and embrace the Nordic lifestyle in an urban sauna like Rooftop Saunas Hackney, Revitalise (new!) or Sauna & Plunge

• Get moving (in a way that feels good for your body!!) at one of London's innovative fitness studios – I've discovered some fantastic options lately

Shopping

• Lose yourself in the city's independent bookshops and find your next winter read

• Shop local at East London's trendy boutiques - there are some great ones around Broadway Market and Columbia Road

• Hunt for unique pieces at London's best vintage spots: Brick Lane, Dalston, Camden, and Portobello Road… to name a few

Want to get outside?

• Bundle up for a walk in one of London's beautiful parks - the crisp winter air is surprisingly refreshing!

What are you getting up to in London this month? I'm always looking to expand this list, so please share your favorites in the comments below.

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Lastly, Happy New Year and thank you for being here! I'm incredibly grateful for each of you who take the time to read my posts. Your support means more than you know, especially as I work on finding my voice here. As I step into 2025 with renewed clarity and purpose, I'm excited to share more stories, discoveries, and real-life moments with you.

And with that - if we're just meeting - hello and I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself sooner! I'm Julianna, a Massachusetts transplant living in London for 4 years now. In addition to starting this passion project, I work in digital marketing and have a small accessories brand. I'm so glad you've found your way here and look forward to getting to know you. Here’s what you can expect from me in 2025, on a bi-weekly basis:

• Raw honesty and vetted recommendations

• Local gems and favorites across London (including spots that won't make it to Instagram)

• Travel inspiration and destination guides - here are some past examples: London at Christmas, A Festive Weekend in Vienna, and Wild Dining at Inverlonan

• Deep dives into whatever catches my curiosity - from books to wellness to cultural observations

• Real life in all its beautiful messiness (as a multi-hyphenate 30-something)

If there is anything you’d like me to delve into this year, whether that’s a particular destination, London recommendations, more personal topics, etc. please do feel free to leave a comment or DM me privately!

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I want to leave you with a quote from the book I’m currently reading, The Place of Tides by James Rebanks.

“Our lives are a series of choices - about what we do, and don’t do. Over time, we decide what to let go of, what must die, and what we will fight to keep alive. Sometimes these are big, deliberate decisions, other times change happens in a thousand thoughtless little moments.”

May 2025 be everything that you want and need it to be.

Until next time,

Julianna

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