January Juice Cleanse: How to Plan Your Post-Christmas Reset

UK searches for a juice cleanse peak between Christmas and mid-January. It makes sense: a fortnight of mince pies, cheese boards and late nights leaves most of us wanting something lighter. But the people who get the most from a January reset are rarely the ones who order on 1 January and start on a hangover. They are the ones who planned it in December. Here is a simple, week-by-week way to do that, from our nutritionist Grace Kingswell, who designs every Presscription cleanse.

When is the best time to do a juice cleanse in January?

For most people, somewhere between 6 and 20 January works best. By then:

• Your routine is back. Work, school runs and the gym are in full swing, so your days have a shape that bottles can fit into.
• The parties are over. Starting the morning after a big night out makes the first day much harder than it needs to be.
• You have had time to prepare. Two or three lighter days beforehand make the cleanse itself feel far easier.

If you want to start sooner, 2 to 5 January can work too. Just keep New Year's Eve gentle and give yourself the prep days below. Pick a start date in a week without a big dinner, a hen do or a long-haul flight on the calendar.

Your week-by-week January reset plan

Your reset calendar at a glance

Mid to late December: book it

Our juices are cold-pressed and made fresh to order daily, never pasteurised, so every cleanse is pressed for your start date. That means delivery slots in early January are limited, and they go quickly. Choose your start date and book before Christmas so the date you want is still there. In London we deliver Sunday to Thursday after 7pm, the night before you start; across the rest of the UK we deliver Tuesday to Friday before 10:30am on the morning you start. Check the date picker at checkout for delivery days over Christmas and New Year, and remember that our 7-day cleanse is London only.

27 December to New Year: ease off, do not crash

There is no need to be perfect over the festive week. Instead, add a few small habits that make the cleanse easier later:

• Have a glass of water between alcoholic drinks.
• Fill half your plate with vegetables at least once a day; leftover roast veg counts.
• Go for a walk most days, even 20 minutes.

The 2 to 3 days before you start: prepare

This is the part most people skip, and it is the part that matters most. Cut back on alcohol, caffeine, sugar and heavy, processed food, and base your meals on vegetables, soups, whole grains, eggs, fish or pulses. If you usually drink several coffees a day, reduce gradually so you are not hit by a headache on day one. Our full guide on how to prepare for a juice cleanse has a day-by-day list.

Cleanse days

A typical Presscription day is six 500ml glass bottles, five cold-pressed juices and a nut mylk, plus two 30ml booster shots, numbered so you always know what comes next. Around 80% of what you drink is vegetable rather than fruit. Alongside your bottles:

• Drink water and caffeine-free herbal teas. The NHS suggests six to eight glasses of fluid a day.
• Keep exercise gentle: walking, stretching or yoga rather than a hard January gym session.
• Get to bed a little earlier than usual.

Your printable cleanse-day schedule (stick it on the fridge):

• ☐ 9:30am juice 1
• ☐ 11:30am juice 2
• ☐ 12:30pm booster shot
• ☐ 1:30pm juice 3
• ☐ 3:30pm juice 4
• ☐ 4:30pm booster shot
• ☐ 5:30pm juice 5
• ☐ 7:30pm nut mylk
• ☐ Water or herbal tea between bottles

The days after: ease back in

Come back to food gradually, roughly half the length of your cleanse, with a minimum of one day. Start with warm, simple food such as soup, porridge and eggs, then build up to balanced plates. Our 3-day plan for what to eat after a juice cleanse sets out every meal.

1, 3 or 5 days: which January juice cleanse is right for you?

• 1 day: a gentle reset if you have never cleansed before, or if you want a lighter day after the festive weeks without committing to more.
• 3 days: a good middle ground for a January reset. Long enough to break a run of festive habits, short enough to fit around work.
• 5 days: best if you have cleansed before and know how you feel on juice. Plan a quieter week.
• 7 days: for experienced cleansers only, and London delivery only.

Not sure? Choose three days. You can compare every line-up, including our Weight Loss, Advanced and Sugar Detox cleanses, in our juice cleanse range.

Prefer something warm in January?

Cold juice on a frosty morning is not for everyone. If you would rather have something warming, a soup cleanse follows the same idea with blended vegetable soups and broths, and some people mix the two: juice in the day, soup in the evening. You can also follow your juice cleanse with a soup day to bridge the gap back to solid food. Browse our soup cleanses for warming options.

How to keep your January reset going

A cleanse is a short break from your usual routine. What you do in February matters more. A few habits worth keeping:

• Keep the veg up. Aim for at least five portions of fruit and veg a day. The NHS counts a 150ml glass of fruit or vegetable juice as one of your 5 A Day, however much you drink.
• Stay sensible with alcohol. If you are doing Dry January, a cleanse can be a good way to start it. If not, the UK Chief Medical Officers advise no more than 14 units a week, spread over three or more days.
• Plan the next one. Some people prefer a one-day cleanse once a month as a regular check-in, rather than one big reset a year.

More reading for your January reset

• Christmas weight gain
• Dry January: the alcohol facts
• How to get rid of winter cravings
• Veganuary tips and tricks

A note before you start

A juice cleanse is not suitable for everyone. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, take regular medication, have a history of disordered eating or are under 18, speak to your GP before starting.

FAQs

When should I start a juice cleanse in January?

Between 6 and 20 January suits most people, once routines are back and the parties are over. Starting in the first few days of the month can work if you keep New Year's Eve gentle and prepare for two or three days beforehand.

How far in advance should I book a January juice cleanse?

Book before Christmas if you can. Presscription juices are made fresh to order for your start date, and early January delivery slots are the first to go.

How long should a January juice cleanse be?

Three days suits most people. Choose one day if it is your first cleanse, and five days only if you have cleansed before and can plan a quieter week.

Can I do a juice cleanse straight after New Year's Eve?

It is better not to. Alcohol and late nights make the first day much harder. Give yourself two or three lighter days with plenty of water first.

Can I exercise during a January juice cleanse?

Keep it gentle. Walking, stretching and yoga are fine for most people, but save hard training sessions for after your cleanse.

Ready to plan your reset? Pick your January start date on our 3 Day Juice Cleanse, cold-pressed, made fresh to order and delivered in glass bottles, or compare all our January juice cleanses.