Resetting My December: Cozy Intentions & Holiday Magic
There’s something about the first days of December that makes me crave a full mind-and-home reset. Maybe it’s the holiday glow settling over the apartment, maybe it’s the emotional weight of the year catching up to me—but today I woke up with a heaviness I couldn’t quite shake. Depressive symptoms were creeping in, and for a moment, all I wanted to do was curl up and disappear into the day.
Instead, I looked around my apartment—the little world I can control—and decided to reset my space so I could reset my mind.
My Christmas tree has been up (of course) since early November, but after hosting friends this weekend, a lot of my Christmas knick-knacks were scattered everywhere. So I slowly moved from room to room, putting things back in their places, setting my dining table again, and letting myself enjoy the simple act of tidying. The warm glow from the tree, the snickerdoodle-sweet wax melt scent drifting through the air, and the Christmas music humming in the background made the whole ritual feel like a soft, gentle hug.
I did laundry and reset my wardrobe—the small but comforting ritual of folding my favorite pieces, creating space, and recognizing the version of myself I’m stepping into. I finally went through the boxes I brought home from my office, too. It felt good to organize, put things away, and breathe a little easier in a space that now feels more open, more intentional, more *me*.
Somewhere between rearranging the dining room and switching out laundry, I squeezed in another ten job applications. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was a step forward—proof that I’m still moving, still trying, still showing up.
Later, I sat down to write my December intentions, goals, and mindset shifts. A few stood out:
* Waking up with purpose each day
* Doing the little things that bring me joy (like walking to get a coffee or making the perfect at-home latte)
* Being fully present with family and friends
* Letting go of my old self—hello, 31
* Eating what I want during the holidays without policing myself with rules that never served me
* Celebrating the growth that 25 brought me
* Doing all the Christmas things with zero apology
And to top off my reset day, I headed to the Christmas Village in Philly with Eric. The lights, the music, the vendors, the energy—it all felt like the exact kind of magic I needed. We wandered, soaked it all in, and let ourselves just be part of the holiday cheer. When we got back home, I curled up and finished the night with some Christmas needle-poke embroidery, letting the soft, repetitive motions end the day on a calm and creative note.
December doesn’t have to be perfect. Today certainly wasn’t. But it was real and human and cozy in its own messy way. Resetting my space gave me room to reset my heart. And maybe that’s all I needed to step into the rest of this month with softness, clarity, and a little bit of magic.
-D
