Staunton’s Post-Holiday Reset

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January is finally here, and if the bustle of the holidays has left you wiped out instead of refreshed, you’re not alone. From holiday hosting and New Year’s Eve overindulging to just trying to keep the kids from destroying the house over the long winter break, you might be suffering from a holiday hangover! Here’s how to slow down, catch your breath, and reset in Staunton in 2025.

First: Breathe Deeply and Stretch Your Body

Let’s jump right into those fitness resolutions!

• Welcome 2025 with a long walk in the great outdoors. You’ll enjoy vivid scenery, bracing fresh air, and mental and physical benefits that will provide a much-needed reset from the holiday season.
  • Hike the 4.5-mile out-and-back Blue Ridge Tunnel hike, which follows an old railroad bed and takes explorers under Afton Mountain.
  • Try the 2.2-mile Turk Mountain Hike in Shenandoah National Park. The hike summits with endless views to the west.
  • Nearby, the 3.5-mile Chimney Rock Hike offers striking views of Calvary Rocks and Chimney Rock.
• Want to level up your skill set? Sign up for a guided hike or other outdoor adventure like tree or rock climbing with Vivid Earth Adventures. 

• “Om” into the new year at Phoenix Fitness & Yoga, which offers classes in pilates, yoga, strength, and more, including suspended aerial yoga and candlelight sound baths.
• Wish you had your own personal gym but don’t have the space? Newtown Fitness provides private, distraction-free workout rooms with commercial equipment.

Second: Let Someone Else Cook for a Change

You’ve been cooking and baking like crazy for the past five weeks, but now that the seasonal food fest is over, put the spatula down and order some take-out. 

• You’ll love the fresh food you’ll find at Collins Market like delicious deli sandwiches made with local ingredients. You can also meet your veggie goals with chef salads and top everything off with a well-deserved sweet treat.

• Load up on fresh Mediterranean flavors when you design a bowl at Helios Mediterranean, which recently opened near the historic train station.

• Seed to Tail’s weekly Wednesday night dinner will feel like a night out at your favorite restaurant, except in your own home. Even if it’s not Wednesday, you can pick something delicious from the market case.
• If you’re craving something light, stop in at Bijou for small-batch “seasonally and artfully inspired soups, salads, and desserts.”
• Cranberry’s Grocery and Eatery specializes in healthy snacks, light meals, and smoothies for breakfast and lunch. They also have locally produced and organic grocery items, bulk herbs, homeopathic remedies, and more.
• Revel in a talk-free experience (and yummy food) when you order takeout online from Baja Bean, Chicano Boy Taco, Remedy Burger, and Shenandoah Pizza. 
• Order all your family comforts to go from Wright’s, The Depot, and Mill Street Grill!

Third: Practice Healthy Consumption

You’re probably also thinking about getting healthy and taking care of the planet. Whether you’re interested in supporting local growers or just consuming a little cleaner, here’s where to start.

• When you’re ready to venture back into the kitchen, find all your favorite vendors and stock up on fresh ingredients at the Winter Farmers’ Market. 

• Get a head start on spring cleaning and healthy living with zero waste when you shop home cleaning and personal care products at Refill Renew.
• Look ahead to the growing season and reserve your share from a local CSA. Wild Altar Farmstead is devoted to “growing a relationship between food, community, and land.” Creambrook Farm offers raw milk herd shares. 
• Your life will most definitely improve with a flower subscription of weekly bouquets from a local flower farm like Brown Dog Blooms.

Fourth: Seize Some Me Time

Face it: you deserve a little quiet time. Here’s your guide to spas and more.

• Book a spa day at the Spa at the Blackburn. Indulge yourself with skin treatments, a massage, reflexology, and nail care. You can also relax at Breezy Hill Day Spa with massage, pedicures, body wraps, and more. Mill Street Body and Soul Day Spa and Salon offers a menu of body treatments, makeup application classes, and – if you’re looking to build confidence or planning ahead for Valentine’s Day – boudoir photo sessions.
• Essentially Zen has great-smelling soy candles, cold-processed artisan soaps made with natural ingredients. Celebrate 2025 with a new signature scent. Marion’s Candles Scents & Seasons also offers yummy-scented candles and soaps. 

• Exhausted from shopping for other people? Focus on yourself for a change when you refresh your 2025 wardrobe! The Fashion Gallery, Design@Nine, and Billy Opal all offer great selections of fashionable styles.
• Feather your nest with some seriously comforting items. Heirloom Home carries luxury linens, and Burrow and Vine sells beautiful houseplants and plant-themed decor.

Fifth: Try Something New

Whether you’re exploring a far-off time with a new book or getting your hands dirty in a cave, nothing is more invigorating than experiencing something new.

• SolArt Center offers a range of experiences including yoga, music, and chances to both observe and participate in the visual and performing arts. You should also sign up for creative classes at the Art Hive, Beverly Street Studio School, or the Staunton Augusta Art Center. 

• Feed your brain with a good book from The Book Dragon or Staunton Books and Tea. Browse the shelves at Bargain Books Staunton to find a new-to-you favorite.

• If you’d rather work with your hands, select a model kit from Frontline Model Kits & Hobbies‘ huge selection.

• Staunton’s Parks and Recreation department offers classes in a wide variety of topics including dancing, cooking, and American Sign Language.
• Who doesn’t enjoy learning when there’s vino involved? Accordia hosts tastings and educational sessions where you’ll learn about the wines and how to pair them!

Happy New Year. Hopefully, you’ll find your sure-fire cure to lift you out of your post-holiday slump!