What I Pay Attention to at the Start of a New Year in the Workshop

January is usually a quieter month in my workshop, and I’ve come to see that as a gift rather than a lull. After the Christmas rush, when tools are constantly in use and everything gets pushed to one side to keep orders moving, the workshop tells the truth again. It becomes obvious what’s working, what’s worn, and what needs attention.

I don’t make strict New Year’s resolutions, but I do take stock. That process starts with cleaning.

January Workshop Reset – Cleaning After the Christmas Rush

Cleaning as a Reality Check

A proper January clean isn’t just about appearances. It’s about seeing the condition of my tools and more importantly the work space without the distraction of production pressure. When dust is cleared and benches are emptied, small issues show themselves. How did my layout help or hinder me when I was busy? What can be improved for the new year? These are the important questions.

Storage that made sense in summer but didn’t cope well with Christmas volume. Cleaning forces me to slow down and actually notice these things.

It’s also when I spot equipment damage early, before it turns into a problem mid-project.

I reflected more on this in Another Year in the Workshop, where I wrote about how time, repetition, and small adjustments quietly shape how I work.

Did the Workshop Layout Hold Up?

Christmas is a stress test. If something is awkward, badly placed, or poorly thought through, December will expose it.

January is when I ask myself:

● Did I waste time walking back and forth unnecessarily?

● Were tools where I instinctively reached for them?

● Did I move things “temporarily” that never went back?

I don’t chase a perfect workshop layout anymore, but I do try to remove friction. Small changes made now save time all year.

Production Lessons From the Busy Period

The quiet weeks also give me space to think about what I learned during the rush.

Sometimes that’s as simple as realising a template would save time next year. Sometimes it’s spotting a process that slowed everything down unnecessarily. I’m not trying to turn the workshop into a factory, but efficiency matters when demand spikes.

If something worked well, I make a note. If it didn’t, I try to understand why before the memory fades.

What Actually Sold This Year?

Every year is different. Pieces that sold steadily one year might slow the next or not sell at all. Sometimes something unexpected takes off and I then make more the following year in the hope that the same trend continues. It doesn't always.

January is when I review what moved, what didn’t, and if there were any surprises. That informs what I make next, not by chasing trends, but by understanding my own work and my customers better.

From there, I print a list of pieces that need to be turned to rebuild stock. I do the same for Original Kerry in Dingle, creating spare stock ahead of the tourist season. Having that list on paper clears mental space and turns vague pressure into manageable work.

Stock That Keeps the Workshop Running

It’s not just finished pieces that matter. Consumables quietly control everything.

Sandpaper is always high on my January list. It’s one of the most important materials in woodturning, and it’s easy to underestimate how quickly it disappears. I generally overorder so I am never caught out.

I also review finishes, abrasives, and small items that get used daily but only noticed when they run out.

Knowing what I used most tells me far more than guessing what I might need.

Turning Lists Into Clarity

Once those lists are made, I know exactly where I stand. There’s no pressure to do everything at once, but there is clarity. I know what needs attention, what can wait, and what doesn’t need changing at all.

That alone makes the new year feel lighter.

How This Translates to Smaller Workshops

Most of my students don’t run production workshops, but the same principles apply. A small space benefits just as much from a reset.

Cleaning, reviewing tool condition, and thinking about what actually gets used can transform how enjoyable turning feels. Even a single bench or corner workshop works better when it’s set up deliberately rather than by habit.

This is something students often notice when they attend my woodturning classes. Seeing a working setup in person, and understanding why things are arranged the way they are, helps make sense of their own space back home.

Many of the same principles apply in smaller spaces too, I’ve written before about how a simple, deliberate workshop setup can make turning more enjoyable and less frustrating.

Starting the Year With Intention

January isn’t about rushing into new projects or buying new tools.

For me, it’s about paying attention.

● Attention to the condition of the workshop.

● Attention to what the past year revealed.

● Attention to what will quietly make the year ahead smoother.

That’s how I start a new year at the lathe, not with resolutions, but with awareness. If you have your own January ritual in the workshop, I’d be interested to hear it.

Thanks for Reading,

David

About the Author

I’m David Condon, a woodturner and small business owner based in Tralee, Co. Kerry. I’ve been working with wood for most of my life at this stage — 11 years as a carpenter and over a decade running my own woodturning business.

Over the years, I’ve learned that woodturning is as much about patience and problem-solving as it is about tools and technique. I work mainly with Irish hardwoods, teach woodturning full-time, and spend most days learning something new in the workshop myself. On this site, I share the same practical knowledge I pass on to my students, shaped by experience, mistakes, and time spent at the lathe.

© David Condon Woodcraft – All Rights Reserved.

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