THE WORKING GAL
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There's something about January that feels like a blank notebook—full of possibility, slightly intimidating, and begging for a fresh pen. Whether you're the type to set 47 goals on January 1st or simply want to survive the month without buying another planner you won't use, we've got you.
This year and every month, we will be rounding up the products, ideas, books, and little moments that are inspiring our team at The Working Gal. Think of this as your curated guide to what's worth your attention, your money, and your precious free time this January. Some of these are things we've bought (and actually use). Others are ideas we're stealing for ourselves. All of them? Certified vibe-worthy.
Here are 30 things inspiring us this January.
The Cozy Essentials
1. The Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Throw
Yes, it's an investment. Yes, it's worth every penny. There's a reason this blanket has a cult following—it's the softest thing you'll ever own, and January is basically made for wrapping yourself in it while pretending the outside world doesn't exist.
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2. A Really Good Candle (We're Burning Boy Smells' Hinoki Fantôme)
January calls for candles that make your apartment smell like a fancy hotel spa, not a Bath & Body Works clearance bin. This one has notes of hinoki wood and incense that feel grounding without being overwhelming. Light it during your Sunday reset and thank us later.
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3. Wool Socks That Actually Stay Up
We've been converted to merino wool socks, and there's no going back. Cold feet are the enemy of productivity, and these are the cozy, non-slipping solution.
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4. The Oversized Cardigan You'll Live In
The goal is feeling like you're wearing a blanket while still looking put-together on Zoom calls and an oversized cardigan delivers exactly that.
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5. An Electric Kettle That Looks Cute on Your Counter
This Gooseneck Electric Kettle has been sitting pretty on our desks, and it makes the ritual of afternoon tea feel elevated. January is for hot drinks and slow moments.
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The Books We're Actually Reading
6. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
For when you want something beautifully written that makes you feel all the feelings. Didion's prose is January-appropriate: reflective, a little melancholy, impossibly elegant.
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7. Atomic Habits by James Clear (Yes, Again)
There's a reason this book keeps coming back every January. If you haven't read it, now's the time. If you have, a re-read hits different when you're actually in goal-setting mode.
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8. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
For when you want something thrilling but not too heavy. It's the perfect cozy mystery to read under that Barefoot Dreams throw we mentioned.
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9. Buy Yourself the Fcking Lilies by Tara Schuster*
A memoir-meets-self-help book about learning to parent yourself. It's funny, honest, and exactly the kind of gentle kick you need in January.
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10. Whatever's on Your Nightstand That You Haven't Finished
Honestly? January is also a great month to finally finish that book you started in October. No shame. We're all doing it.
The Products Worth the Hype
11. The Stanley Quencher (or Your Tumbler of Choice)
Hydration is the most boring resolution, but having a cup you actually like makes it easier. The 40oz Stanley lives up to the hype—it keeps water cold forever and fits in your car cup holder.
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12. The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Winter lips are no joke. Slather this on before bed, wake up with lips that don't feel like sandpaper. It's a small luxury that makes a big difference.
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13. A Sunrise Alarm Clock
Waking up in the dark is brutal. The Hatch Restore has been a game-changer for our team—it simulates sunrise, has meditation sounds, and makes 6 am feel slightly less offensive.
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14. The Hot Air Styler (If You're Ready to Invest)
January sales are the time to finally pull the trigger on this one. Is it expensive? Yes. Does it cut your styling time in half while making your hair look salon-fresh? Also yes.
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15. A Silk Pillowcase
Better for your skin, better for your hair, and it makes your bed feel like a hotel. Once you go silk, you never look back.
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The Goal-Setting Tools We're Using
16. The Ink + Volt Planner
Not too bulky, not too minimal, but very aesthetic. It has the perfect amount of structure for goal-setting without making you feel like a failure by February. The quarterly reflection pages are especially good.
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17. Notion (Finally Learning to Use It Properly)
We're committing to actually building a system this year instead of just collecting aesthetic templates. The learning curve is real, but the payoff is worth it.
Get it here
18. A Simple Wall Calendar
Sometimes analog is best. We're fans of wall calendars because they are the most affordable way to make your desk or kitchen look pretty while keeping you on track.
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19. The 12-Week Year by Brian Moran
The concept: instead of setting yearly goals, you work in 12-week sprints. It creates urgency without the overwhelming feeling of a 365-day timeline. We're testing it this Q1.
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20. Voice Memos for Journaling
Not everyone loves writing by hand. Recording voice notes on your commute or while getting ready is a low-effort way to reflect without the pressure of a blank page.
The Little Moments We're Prioritizing
21. The 10-Minute Morning
Not a full hour routine—just 10 minutes before checking your phone. Coffee, a few stretches, maybe stepping outside for fresh air. It's small, but it shifts the entire day.
22. Batch Cooking on Sundays
Not meal prep in the Instagram-perfect way. More like: roast a bunch of vegetables, make a pot of soup, prep some grains. Future you will be grateful.
23. The "No Phone in Bed" Rule
Charging your phone across the room instead of on your nightstand. It's the simplest change that makes the biggest difference for sleep quality.
24. Saying No to January Plans
Controversial take: January is for hibernating. You don't have to say yes to every happy hour, especially if you are in Dry January mode. Staying home with takeout and a good show is a valid choice.
25. The 5-Minute Kitchen Reset
Before bed, spend five minutes clearing counters, loading the dishwasher, and setting up the coffee maker. Waking up to a clean kitchen is an underrated form of self-care.
The Entertainment We're Streaming
26. Emily in Paris (Rewatching)
If you haven't seen the latest season, start immediately. If you have, a January rewatch hits different. The drama, the fashion, the chaos that follows Emily everywhere—it's the perfect background for folding laundry.
27. Whatever True Crime Podcast Everyone's Talking About
We're currently making our way through the backlog. Commutes are better with a good mystery. And if you want to visualize it, those true crime documentaries are worth your time.
28. Comfort Rewatches (No Judgment Zone)
Gilmore Girls for the cozy vibes. The Devil Wears Prada for the fashion motivation. Pride and Prejudice (2005) for the Mr. Darcy hand flex. January is for comfort content.
29. New Music for the New Year
We're building a January playlist with slower, more intentional songs. Think: Bon Iver, Phoebe Bridgers, Japanese Breakfast. Music that matches the introspective energy.
30. The Documentary You've Been Meaning to Watch
January is the perfect time to finally watch that documentary everyone recommended six months ago. Our current pick: anything about social media. Don't ask why.
Your January, Your Way
The truth about January: it doesn't have to be about massive transformation or a complete life overhaul. Sometimes it's about finding the small things—a good blanket, a book that makes you think, a morning routine that actually sticks—that make the month feel a little more intentional.
Take what resonates from this list, ignore what doesn't, and build your own version of January vibes. We'll be back next month with 30 more things inspiring us—because there's always something new to discover, try, or obsess over.
Happy January. You've got this.
