Finding Joy in January
What I've been doing, reading, listening to, and being inspired by
✨This week, take a moment to lean into joy as a way to relieve some of the stress you’re feeling.
✨ Last time: A reminder about capacity- Read it here
Welcome to Humans Leading, a space designed just for you by me, Dr. Jillian. As a busy physician, toddler mom, coach, and creative who has experienced and recovered from burnout, I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed and stuck. Via the Humans Leading publication and community, you’ll learn ways to live a less stressed, more satisfying life without completely overhauling your life. Subscribe here to get future posts straight to your inbox:
Wow, has it been a month since 2026 started?
Time sure flies during ongoing unprecedented times around the world.
As we continue to witness and respond to dehumanization, violence, and human rights violations, it is so important not to turn away, become numb, or get stuck in overwhelm. If we do, we become less able to respond, to resist, to continue to live our lives, and to work toward a better future.
To avoid getting stuck in these unhelpful states, we must be intentional about how we are going about our days. We must take time away from the news and social media. Time recovering and resting. Time in community. Time experiencing joy. Our nervous systems need these practices in order to function.
And the world needs the amazing things that you have to offer.
Throughout January, I’ve continued to ask myself two questions on a regular basis:
How can I keep myself from getting overwhelmed and dragged under by the world?
How can I be of service right now?
It turns out that the answers to the first question have informed the answer to the second:
I help myself by continuing my practice of nervous-system regulation and stress relief.
Therefore, I show up more regulated in my day-to-day life and in my work (including this publication).
Calm is contagious (just like anxiety), and my being calmer helps the people around me be more regulated as well.
In other words, regulating our nervous systems is a public service.
In service of helping us regulate our nervous systems and finding joy, I’ll be sharing some of what has been helping me this month.
This month, I led several wellness sessions, workshops, and coaching sessions.
I led several of the same session “Beyond Survival Mode” which is based on my Hard Days toolkit. I continue to be amazed how something that started out as a piece of writing here on Substack has grown into a session shared with hundreds of people.
I am looking forward to expanding my personal workshop offerings throughout this year (in person and virtual). While I will be sharing more information about this in the coming months, feel free to reach out via DM if you’d like to discuss ways for me to work with your group.
“Dr. Jillian was excellent. She provided relevant and helpful information in such a personable way. Great delivery and presenting skills. I have been doing a lot of self-reflecting since the presentation and using the tools she provided to make my day less stressful.”
-Workshop participant
As someone who used to shy away from public speaking, I’m proud of how I’ve grown in this area, and I feel grateful to be able to share what I’ve learned with others in a way that positively impacts their lives. These workshops are such a source of joy for me.
Now, on to the links…
In case you missed one (or more) posts here on Humans Leading in January, I shared three which focused on intentionality in starting the year, living through chaotic times, and remembering your capacity.
You can catch up here:
READING SLOWLY: Feast on Your Life- Kitchen Meditations for Every Day by Tamar Adler
I got this book for Christmas, and I’ve been savoring it by reading a few pages each evening. It has an entry for each day, and I love how it reminds us to notice the small (ordinary) joys around us. During times like these, this is even more important.
Chasing Fog by Laura Pashby
This book combines history, folklore, and personal narrative and is a perfect read for the darker months. It’s described as “a meditation on fog and mist, a love song to weather and nature’s power to transform.” If you’re in a phase of life where you’re contemplating who you are and what you’re meant to be doing, this book is a cozy way to do that.
REREAD: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Ok, so this one is a bit of a stretch since I haven’t actually started rereading it yet. But this seemed like the perfect time to tell you that I’m going to as part of Caroline Donahue’s slow read beginning February 2nd. I have my book all tabbed-out and ready to go during the next 14 weeks. You can join by subscribing to her paid newsletter or simply plan to read slowly on your own. I’ve loved this book since high school but haven’t read it since then, so I’m interested to see how I react to it as an adult.
I’ll Allow It: 8 Gentle January Permissions by Joy Wilson
I love this list of simple things, especially this one: “We’re turning the house “on” at 4pm (or whenever we get home in the evening).” In other words, turning off overhead lights, turning on lamps, lighting candles, and making space for the night to come in. During the winter, I really enjoy lighting a candle in the late afternoon. It can make sure a difference as the darkness sets in.
We need the poetry of now with Anna Brones
In this piece, Anna reminds us of the importance of figuring “out how to pay attention and acknowledge the realities of the moment without letting our creative spirit be squashed along the way. We pay attention so that we can decide what we do with what we’ve learned.” One way of paying attention is to get off of our screens and notice what is really around us. Make a list. Notice. Breathe. Recover.
When imagination matters most by Lindsay Jean Thomson of #the100DaysProject
I’ve never done a full 100 days project, but I’m still signing on to try something creative for 100 days starting in February. As outlined in the previous recommendation, we need creativity more than ever. Who wants to join me?
Rally Playlist on Spotify
If you’re feeling a lot of existential dread about the state of the world, you’re not alone. I’ve heard from so many people that it’s taking a toll on them. And it gets to me, too. When I’m feeling like it’s too much, I turn to this playlist. It has a ton of songs that help me feel uplifted and changes my mood right away. If you need an extra mood boost, please picture my 4-year-old son and I dancing to ‘Boogie Shoes’ during the morning while we make breakfast. And, for more bonus joy, try it yourself.
If you’re in the mood for something more mellow, I offer you: watercolor painting with a cup of tea
The description for this one is “relaxing and imagining I live in a cottage in France in the Middle Ages…” which is fitting. I listened to it while I watercolored the other day, and I highly recommend it if your nervous system needs a break.
Tiny Experiments in Writing with Anne-Laure Le Cunff on The Secret Library podcast
I first heard about this episode during a workshop held by Caroline Donahue and had to go listen ASAP. The concept of “tiny experiments” (e.g. an action you do for a set amount of time) is a simple and effective way to think about how we can make changes in our lives. If you’re been struggling with making a change, I highly recommend this episode (even if you don’t write) and checking out Ann-Laure’s book, Tiny Experiments.
Tamar Adler on The Dinner Plan podcast with Maggie Hoffman
This episode was a delight. I loved listening along as I cooked. It’s the perfect way to spark some joy for cooking if you’re feeling stuck in the endless cycle of meal preparation. As mentioned above, I’m also slow reading Tamar’s book and recommend that you get yourself a copy ASAP.
It’s the perfect time of year for this MVP recipe for an easy-to-assemble breakfast: Baked Steel Cut Oatmeal
I can’t count how many times I’ve made this recipe since I first found it several years ago. If it’s not the sweltering part of summer, I’m making it. But it’s perfect for the winter.
I’ve used blueberries, apples, peaches, and plums, and they all work well. And I usually use the lower amount of maple syrup, include the cinnamon, and use non-dairy milk (almond or oat work really well).
If you can stop yourself from consuming the whole pan after it comes out of the oven, you can cut it into individual portions and put those in the fridge or freezer to have for easy breakfasts to warm up in the microwave. Because you’re using steel cut oats, the texture doesn’t get too mushy like it might if you used regular oatmeal.
A version of “pizza beans” from deb perelman
These had been on my list to make for several years, and our recent below freezing temps were just what I needed to get me started. I made a lot of substitutions since there was no way I was leaving the house: no celery, wine, or kale. A mix of cheeses I had to use up from the fridge. Cannellini beans instead of giant beans.
And they were still a hit. Hearty, cheesy, and soul-nourishing.
Get yourself some bread to dip in them, and you’ll be all set. Hot tip… leftovers warm up really well for lunch (if they last that long).
A delicious, riff-able lentil salad from NYT cooking (gift link)
I used brussels sprouts instead of radicchio, adjusted the herbs based on what was in the fridge, and made a few other adjustments to suit my taste. The leftovers kept for several days in the fridge and were perfect to take with me for a satisfying lunch while working in the hospital.
And finally… on my list to try soon: these cheddar scallion scones from Joy Wilson
Carbs? Cheese? Butter? It can’t possibly miss.
If you need a microbreak to pause, I offer you this from Yoyo Ma.
And finally, a list of things I’m loving in daily life. None of these are affiliate links. They’re just things I love and think you will too.
The best marshmallows of all time - The Vermont Marshmallow company
This is self-explanatory. It’s almost hot chocolate season, and your mug will be much better with these small-batch marshmallows.
Beautiful watercolor sketchbooks by Grace Paper Place
I decided to do more watercolor this year, and my new handbound books from this seller are wonderful. They are not only beautiful to look at but also lay flat to make it really easy to paint.
Who doesn’t need more candles? Fall scents from July Sky Candle Co.
This is another great Michigan-based seller who I am always hyping. You can purchase from her Etsy site or find her at an in-person event if you’re local.
What is bringing you joy right now?
If you’re finding it hard, I hope you found some inspiration here.
I’d love you to share your favorite recent books, posts, podcasts, and/or everyday items in the comments below. Whether it’s something that’s helped you unwind after a busy day or sparked new inspiration, I’m always excited to discover fresh recommendations from this amazing community!
Love that you're getting into watercolour too! Looks beautiful ❤️ and some of those podcast tips sound great, will have to check them out, especially the writing one sounds cool!