The holidays are beautiful—but they can also be loud, busy, and full. Once the decorations come down and the calendar quiets, many of us are left feeling a little tender, a little tired, and in need of restoration.
January invites a different rhythm. Slower mornings. Softer evenings. Small rituals that bring us back to ourselves.
Here are a few simple, meaningful ways to practice self-care and renewal this season—using thoughtfully made pieces you can find at The Handmade House in Burlington.
✨ Nourish Your Skin, Calm Your Nervous System
One of the simplest ways to ground yourself is through touch—and breath.
The Earth Whip grass-fed tallow lavender balm is a beautiful place to start. As you gently massage it into your hands, face, or neck, let the calming scent of lavender slow your breath. Take your time. This isn’t about rushing through a routine—it’s about turning application into a moment of care.
To deepen this ritual, add Melo & Co lavender shower steamers to your shower. As the steam rises, take slow, intentional inhales and allow the lavender to soften your nervous system and clear mental fog. Pairing warm water, gentle scent, and mindful breathing can transform an everyday shower into a restorative reset.
Gentle massage and intentional breath signal safety to the body—easing tension and encouraging rest after weeks of stimulation and busy schedules.
Tip: Try this ritual in the evening to help your body transition into rest mode.
✨ Upgrade Your Personal Scent
Scent is one of the most powerful tools for grounding and emotional reset.
Upgrading your personal scent—especially to something natural—can turn an ordinary day into a small, daily pleasure. A thoughtfully chosen fragrance becomes a quiet signature: comforting, beautiful, and uniquely yours.
We love the jasmine and rose roll-on perfumes by Egyptian Botanicals—soft, floral, and effortlessly wearable. Applied to the wrists or pulse points, they create a gentle moment of calm and femininity that lingers without overwhelming.
Incorporating a natural scent into your routine is a subtle way to say, I care how I feel today. Sometimes self-care is as simple as breathing in something beautiful and letting it set the tone for your day.
See above photo.
✨ Add Beauty Back Into the Everyday
After the holidays, it’s easy to slip into “practical mode.” But beauty doesn’t have to wait for a special occasion.
Wearing a pair of Tish earrings or layering Birds and Beads bracelets can instantly elevate an ordinary day. Jewelry has a quiet way of reminding us that we’re allowed to feel put together, expressive, and intentional—even in the midst of everyday routines.
Sometimes self-care is choosing something lovely just because.
✨ Refresh Your Space, Refresh Your Mind
Our surroundings deeply affect how we feel.
Poppermost Prints are perfect for reinvigorating your space with inspiration and joy. Whether it’s The Notebook, Mary Poppins, or Taylor Swift that speaks to your current season, adding meaningful art to your walls can shift the emotional tone of a room.
A refreshed space invites creativity, hope, and new perspective—exactly what January calls for.
✨ Get Organized, Find Peace of Mind
There’s something incredibly soothing about knowing where things are.
Original E Creations offers the cutest bags for organizing makeup, scrunchies, toiletries, or everyday essentials. Creating order can bring a surprising sense of calm.
Organization isn’t about perfection. It’s about reducing friction and making daily life feel lighter and more beautiful.
✨ Give Kindness, Grow Joy
One of the most powerful (and often overlooked) forms of self-care is kindness.
Doing an act of generosity increases happiness, softens the heart, and expands the energy we carry into the world. Gifting one-of-a-kind jewelry from Factor Stories or a thoughtful piece of fish art by Fishful Thinking is a meaningful way to uplift someone else—and yourself in the process.
Kindness has a beautiful way of coming back around.
A Gentle Invitation
Self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate. Often, it’s found in small rituals, intentional choices, and beautiful handmade pieces that support a slower pace of living.
If you’re in Burlington, we invite you to stop by The Handmade House and explore these restorative finds in person. Let January be a month of softness, inspiration, and renewal—one thoughtful moment at a time.
🤍