January Check-In: The Struggle, The Slacking, and What Comes Next
Jesayn.com is built on one simple truth: Life is messy, and Jesus meets us right in the middle of it. Our motto is about embracing the chaos, finding grace in the imperfection, and showing up for ourselves and others even when we don’t have it all together. So, as January comes to a close, let’s talk about how we did—and where we go from here.
I’ll be the first to admit it: I failed. Big time. Remember those journal prompts we started the month with? Yeah, I did about three of them before life got in the way, and they became one more thing on my never-ending to-do list. My follow-through was crap, and honestly, I’m disappointed in myself. But that’s the thing about this journey—we’re not aiming for perfection here. We’re aiming for progress, no matter how messy it looks.
The January Recap: Falling Short
January always feels like this big, shiny chance to start over, but for me, it was more of a stumble than a sprint. I had great intentions: journaling daily, sticking to healthier habits, and being more present with my family. But somewhere between the chaos of work, managing the house, and just trying to keep my head above water, those intentions got shoved to the back burner.
Take my health, for example. I used to be so good at working out, walking, and eating like I gave a damn about my body. But lately? My eating habits have been straight-up feast or famine. One day I’m skipping meals because I’m too busy, and the next I’m going all in, inhaling half a pizza and following it up with cookies because, hey, why not? The same goes for exercise. One day I’ll have a sudden burst of energy and convince myself I’m about to become a fitness queen, and the next week? Couch city, baby. The cycle is exhausting and unsustainable, and I know I need to break it.
Looking Ahead: February and the Big 4-5
Here’s the thing: February is my birthday month, and this year, I’m hitting the big 4-5. It’s a milestone, and instead of letting it pass by, I’m choosing to make it a turning point. I don’t want to keep living like this—half-assing my health, ignoring my goals, and beating myself up when I fall short. I want to show up for myself, not just for a week or two, but consistently.
So, February is going to be about health. Not in some Instagram-worthy, #NewYearNewMe kind of way, but in a real, sustainable way. I’m talking about finding small wins, like drinking more water, going for a 10-minute walk, or figuring out how to eat in a way that feels good without falling into the feast-or-famine trap.
Keeping It Real: The Plan
Here’s what I’m focusing on for February:
Move My Body: No crazy gym routines or unrealistic expectations. Just move. Whether it’s a walk around the block, stretching in the morning, or dancing like an idiot with my husband in our living room, I’m committing to doing something physical every day.
Relearn Balance with Food: I’m not cutting out entire food groups or jumping on the latest diet bandwagon. Instead, I’m focusing on eating regularly and intentionally. No more starving myself during the day and bingeing at night. I’m going to plan meals that actually fuel my body, but I’m also leaving room for the occasional slice of cake because life’s too short to skip dessert.
Check In With Myself: This one is big. I’m going to get back to those journal prompts, even if it’s just writing one sentence about how I’m feeling or what I’m grateful for. It’s not about perfection; it’s about creating space for reflection and growth.
Give Myself Grace: There will be days I screw up. Days I eat the damn pizza or skip the walk or forget to journal. And that’s okay. The goal isn’t to be perfect; it’s to keep showing up, no matter how many times I fall down.
An Invitation to You
How did your January go? Maybe you crushed your goals, or maybe you’re like me, sitting here with a long list of things you meant to do but didn’t. Wherever you are, I want to invite you to join me in making February a fresh start. Not a perfect one, but a real one. Let’s set small, realistic goals. Let’s celebrate the wins, no matter how tiny. And let’s give ourselves grace when we fall short.
Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” That verse is my anchor right now, because let’s face it—life is hard, and we can’t do it alone. But we don’t have to. Jesus is with us in the struggle, and that’s what keeps me going.
So here’s to February: to new beginnings, messy progress, and showing up for ourselves and each other. Let’s do this together, one step at a time.
Madge
