Ready for a ‘January reset?’

The chocolates have been binned, your online searches are for ‘healthy eating’ and you are pondering joining a gym..

Seven in ten (72 percent) Brits recently polled noted they reach a point between Christmas and New Year, where they cannot WAIT to get back to a healthy routine, with the majority (34 percent) of Brits pledging to get back to it today – 2nd January.

According to the nationwide survey a more resilient one in five (21 percent) plan to continue to eat, drink and be merry right up until Monday the 6th of January. The research has revealed a host of signs you’re ready for your January reset – with frantically tidying and organising the house the biggest indicator (38 percent).

Having a strong urge to tear the tree down (25 percent) before the twelfth night – and purchasing a new 2025 planner or diary (22 percent) are other signals you’re excited for a January routine. Other signals include, throwing chocolate away (18 percent), pledging to ONLY cook wholesome meals (16 percent), and encouraging your kids to do something constructive (13 percent).

Yet despite our best efforts, over half (58 percent) say it’s hard getting back into a healthy routine, according to the poll by HelloFresh. Overall, the survey found a resounding NINE in ten (90 percent) agree, enjoying regular, healthy home cooked meals is one of their main priorities for January.

Mimi Morley, Senior Recipe Development Manager at HelloFresh:

“January is the perfect time to reset, and we know that getting back into a routine can be tough, especially when it comes to mealtimes, which is why we’re making it easy to get a nutritious, home-cooked meal on the table without all the hassle. The meal kits are full of fresh ingredients and simple instructions, so even on those busy evenings, families can enjoy dinner together without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s all about making mealtime a little easier, so families can focus on what really matters – being together.”

Listening to healthy podcasts, dreaming of green vegetables, yearning for wild swimming and wanting to get dressed are other signs you are ready to kiss goodbye to December.

Signs you’re ready for a January reset

You’re frantically tidying and organising the house – 38%
You can’t WAIT to tear the tree down – 25%
You’re sick of leftover sandwiches – 24%
You’ve purchased a new 2025 planner – 22%
You’re ready to hit the gym – 20%
You’ve thrown any leftover chocolate away – 18%
You start pledging to cook wholesome food – 16%
You have the desire to get up and dressed – 15%
You’re craving water and herbal tea – 13%
You’re nagging the children to do something constructive – 13%
You’re hoovering pine needles madly – 11%
You’re Googling healthy recipes / ideas – 9%
You’re searching for healthy supplements online – 7%
You want to sit around the table again rather than eat in front of the telly – 6%
You’ve signed up to yoga class – 6%
You’re done with cheese and biscuits – 6%
You’re dreaming of green vegetables – 5%
You never want to see another goose fat potato – 5%
You’re listening to healthy podcasts – 5%
You’re dreaming of wild swimming – 4%

Clinical Psychologist Dr Martha Deiros Collado is working with HelloFresh to give families practical tips on restoring routine, managing post-holiday stress, and simplifying mealtimes:

Dr. Martha says: Maintaining post-holiday balance doesn’t just happen. You have to make it happen. You need a GAME PLAN. This takes a little preparation but once you are set, it can build some healthy habits that you can continue throughout the year.

Invest in a weekly calendar that looks good, either on the back of your front door or in the corridor – something that helps the whole family know what happens when (e.g. PE day, non-uniform day, when the homework is due etc…)

Reinstate regular dinner times: Aim to make dinner the heart of your day with a home-cooked meal at roughly the same time each evening. A little consistency can help everyone feel more grounded, especially after the holiday buzz.

Let there be light: January mornings are dark and can feel like a struggle. Reduce some of this by keeping fairy lights up to brighten up your kitchen or entrance or light some candles at breakfast and imbue your mornings with a different atmosphere.

Set aside time in breathing space: Plan to leave extra time before you leave your house and after you come back (or in-between activities) because children can drag their feet and take an age to do anything. This can be worse after the holidays as children miss being cosy and relaxed at home so rather than get frustrated when it happens, expect it and give yourself 15-20min breathing space.

Make moving your body a family ritual: Try something fun that sets you up for the day, such as these three moves before you head out the door: Try to touch your toes (Bend your knees if it helps). Stretch your arms towards the ceiling, tall like a tree. Roll your shoulders back for 5 and forward for 5. Notice how your posture changes… Now you’re ready to go!

Make time to rest and restore: January can feel like ‘all systems go’ but our brains and bodies are still wintering, so if you want to have energy make sure you also protect time to rest and restore alone and as a family too. This might look like a walk in nature, watching a family film, cooking as a family, planning an hour of ‘family quiet time’ where you all do something quiet in a shared communal space (e.g. read books, do crafts, build something…).

Doctor Martha Deiros Collado, is a clinical psychologist and HCPC registered practitioner with over 20 years of clinical and academic experience.

With a doctorate from UCL and training in Family therapy from The Tavistock, Martha is a published author in peer reviewed papers and an experienced supervisor for qualified and trainee psychologists. She is a chartered member of The British Psychological Society and The Communications Rep for The National Paediatric Psychology Network

Striving to make the science of psychology accessible to everyone, her growing Instagram community has come to trust the calm, and empathetic way she tackles big subjects. From how to talk about current affairs, death, consent, gender, and sex, as well as the small but critical day to day challenges such as getting children to eat their vegetables and brush their teeth! Martha focuses on our common humanity and the topics that are relevant in the here and now to support parents in building confidence and feeling less alone. Martha strongly believes that focusing on the parent-child relationship is the key to effective change, rather than trying to modify children’s behaviour. She hopes that putting her knowledge into the mainstream will get people curious about themselves and their position in the world, help them grow aware of their unconscious biases, and ultimately become more compassionate humans.

Her book How to Be The Grown-Up: Why Good Parenting Starts with You was an instant Sunday Times Bestseller and published by Bantam, Random House. Research of 2,000 Brits was commissioned by Hello Fresh and was conducted by Perspectus Global in December 2024.