Everyone's dieting... I'm baking cookies
- Eliana Schreiber
- Jan 30
- 5 min read
January is a particularly anticlimactic month. At least where I live, it’s the coldest month of the year. There is very little sun, and it feels filled with uncertainty. It’s funny how the end of a year is a big deal but the beginning of a new one feels empty. I guess that makes sense though. It hasn’t been filled with life, growth, or experiences yet.
I struggle with seasonal depression at times. The lack of sunshine, warmth, and communal gatherings makes it a gloomy time for me. While some people focus on starting new fitness routines in the new year, not much changes for me. I like to keep my exercise consistent year round. I don’t do “Dry January”. In my opinion, this cold dark month is not a time to adopt big changes and extreme goals. It is a time to rest. To take care of yourself and lean into comfort, because January is uncomfortable. We mustn’t place such heavy goals on the beginning of a year. I think people are meant to change with the seasons. We must tune into the gentle beings that we are.
This mindset can lead to stress, social isolation, and a sense of missing out. For example, skipping desserts at family gatherings or avoiding social drinks can make people feel disconnected. This cultural emphasis on discipline overlooks the importance of balance and human connection during a challenging season.
Why I Decided to Host a Cookie Swap Party
I finally grasped the opportunity to execute my cookie swap. It’s been an idea of mine for a while. Because January is so lacking in terms of communal gatherings, what better time to create a reason for people to come together. I absolutely love hosting. I love putting in the time, money, and effort, to show people a good time. The two rules of the evening: everyone must bring a batch of homemade cookies, and no flavor repeats!!
I prepared 14 boxes, added stickers, and Jake displayed them in a pyramid. The dining room table was the center of action. Everyone’s names and cookie contributions were written on a sheet of butcher paper, indicating where to place their treats. We had Palomas and non-alcoholic strawberry margaritas. The setup was intentional, the strings of plastic pearls, bows, ribbons, and pretty glassware produced a detailed girly aesthetic. We built our boxes by circling the table and taking one of each cookie. From chocolate chip to orange zest sugar cookies, we stacked our boxes high and made our way to the living room. Then we sat by the fire, drank our beverages and sampled our treats.
This day was so so cold. But we were warm thanks to the cookies, cocktails, and crackling fire. People drove significant distances to come here. They chose creating something new. They chose social connection. I wanted to make it worth their while.
Planning the Party: Tips for Success
You can do this too and you definitely should!! Here's what helped me.
Invite people early. People like to hibernate in the winter. Without spreading the word early and getting your RSVP's, I fear there's a strong chance people will cancel and stay home :( Also, It gives people something to look forward to and time to plan!
Design an invitation. Don't just start a group chat, make it appealing! No need to spend money, I love using Canva for designing free flyers and one-page invitations .
Make it cozy. Especially if this takes place in a colder month! But regardless, there's something wholesome about people baking cookies to share with others. This should be a setting that promotes comfort and connection. Not stiffness or competition!
Get the boxes. The small element of people having a box of cookies to take home shows intention and makes people feel special. It also eliminates the pressure to eat a bunch of cookies at the party because they can always take them home to enjoy later.
Provide other snacks. Having some less sugary snacks available will make everyone feel better so they don't fill up with cookies on an empty stomach!
January hustle culture
Social media promotes a January full of dieting, cutting out alcohol, and intense new fitness routines. But that’s not how you build lifelong habits. Change happens through consistency over time. Dieting does not work. Refraining from one month of alcohol doesn’t make much of a difference if the other 11 are full of heavy drinking. And abruptly adopting an intense workout plan during the coldest month of the year is not likely to form a lifelong practice of exercise. It is literally the beginning of the year, why are we trying to burn out in January??
Challenging January Norms
Instead of focusing on restriction and "all or nothing" mindsets, the cookie swap embraced enjoyment and connection. Here’s what made it stand out:
Indulging without guilt. All of us were able to savor treats in moderation and take the rest home to enjoy later and share with family.
Building community. Dessert is meant to be shared! Because everyone contributed something of their own, themes of pride, inclusion, and curiosity drove the atmosphere. It also provided something to talk about and eased into other topics.
Offering a break from hustle culture’s pressure. The party created a space to relax, slow down, and enjoy comfort. This was a celebration of cookies! No mention of guilt, burning it off tomorrow, or food rules.
This January has been different for me so far. It’s been a slow month but also an exciting time for planning and exploring what the future holds. I’m graduating college this May. Truthfully, I’m not sure what will happen afterwards and that brings a lot of anxiety. I love psychology. I love baking. I love working on projects and working towards goals. I like to see my work come to fruition and bring others joy. I just don’t really know what to do next.
January is a time for rest, self care, and exploration from inside. Metaphorically and Literally. I’ve been taking my time, thinking, and embracing the uneventfulness. Taking in every slow second, holding onto the simple moments of joy because I know there is more to come. Enjoying the simple pleasures like eating cookies beside a fire with people who bring positivity and connection. Busier times are ahead. Hard work is to come. So for now, I’m baking cookies.
Recipe to try this week:
tips:
These take a bit longer to bake due to the wet add-ins.
These may come out as a softer cookie so heads up if you're a crispy cookie person
Consider cutting strawberry slices in half to make more scoopable
Dip these in milk OMG
take your time :)
