Chase away the blues, a little at a time.

It’s a new year! Christmas, with all its joy and brightness (and stress) is over. January has arrived, and with it, resolutions set when we are feeling jolly, full of food, and still have an entire paycheck in our bank account become reality.

The mornings are dark, the evenings are dark, and it seems like we all become moles overnight, carrying out our lives in a cycle of darkness. The prospect of early morning gym sessions – booked on the highs of Christmas – become less than appealing. So does the healthy diet, carb-free, sugar-free, will-to-live-free meal plans, rounded off perfectly with a frankly shocking number in your bank account…and its only day seven of a thirty-one-day month.

January has the reputation of being the conceptualisation of a ‘jump scare’ in month form (sorry to those of you with birthdays, we’re sure it’s not too bad for you). It’s even the month of ‘Blue Monday’ - the most depressing day of the year.

In light of this, we’re focussing on the little things this January.

Gifting doesn’t have to be large, elaborate, or expensive. It can be tasteful and small, a little pick me up, a thinking-of-you, a you-got-this. This is the month that people dread, when moods are down, and it seems like a thirty-one-day month is morphing into one with about seven hundred and sixty days. Sometimes you don’t need big gestures, just something thoughtful to say ‘I see you, I hear you, and I’m here for you’.

We at Harriet and Rose are all about thoughtful gifting. It’s been our ethos since the start. Of course, we have a range of gifts with a range of prices, but this month we are especially focussing on little things that don’t break the bank, but bring a smile to the faces of those you love. Equally, for you if you need an extra boost this grey month too! So, we’ve made a list (because that’s what we do) with a few ideas of gifts under ten pounds, to bring a bit of joy in a month that seems to seriously lack it.

A card is perhaps the smallest, but one of the most thoughtful things you can receive. Our card stands are filled with bright and cheerful cards, not just the usual birthday, anniversary, thank yous, but also sentiment cards that warm hearts, bring a bit of light, and pick-me-up boost. Perfect perhaps for that colleague who seems a little blue, or your friend who is anxious about the stresses that January brings. A reminder that things will get better!

A good relaxing, tiny self-care gift is our single heat up spacemasks, scented with Jasmine or Grapefruit. At £3.50, they are a small token of thought with a large impact. We are yet to meet someone who has tried them that doesn’t think they are fantastic. We recommend them for sleep, when you’re feeling under the weather, travel and just for a moment of calm.

Another staff favourite - we are all literary lovers here - and a unique small gift are our poetry pill bottles (£9.95 each). Poetry prose is rolled into pill capsules in a small pill bottle, covering every eventuality and experience. We have Hope, Poemcetamol (a play on paracetamol), Mindfulness and Happy Pills. These are bitesize ways (pardon the pun, but we recommend not eating the capsules, for obvious reasons) to inject some joy into those gloomy days.

 A little tender loving care this time of year is never amiss, no matter your mood. We have a range of bath salts and bath cubes for £6 and under, with scents such as Rose Geranium, Lavender, and Rosemary and Arnica. These come in the form of either bath salt sachets, or bath cubes – of which all are utterly delicious smelling and just make that you-time a little more special.

 If January has called for you to appreciate the rituals of life more, or if you simply want a mindful way of adding some light in these dark winter nights, look no further than our mini taper candles. Made by one of our favourite candle brands, St Eval, these scented small tapers make not only a lovely gift but are relatively inexpensive at £5.50 for a set of six tapers. We have scents of orange and cinnamon, sandalwood, a smoky smell called ‘embers’ as well as the spiced ‘inspiritus’.

 January may be the month of impossible resolutions, empty wallets, and gloomy weather but it is important to remember the ephemerality of this month – even if the days seem never ending. A little something to act as a reminder of this – whether to yourself, your work colleagues, family, friends, children and more – may be far more impactful and wonderful than you could ever imagine.

 Gifting isn’t just big gestures and expensive gifts: it’s thought, care, and love, no matter the size or price. And as the home of thoughtful gifting, we are here when you want to share a little helping hand this time of year.