Don’t let Blue Monday get you down!

We all know it’s pretty hard returning to work after the Christmas festivities. We’ve all spent too much, partied too hard and put on a few pounds….and the gloomy weather doesn’t help. It’s no wonder they call 15th January “Blue Monday”, thought to be the most depressing day of the year! But unfortunately for some of us, depression and anxiety don’t just happen during January – it’s an issue a lot of us are battling day in day out.

But there are steps you can take to help with that overwhelming feeling or to help combat the winter blues (or to tackle Blue Monday head on!). You might want to try a few – they might just help!

  1. Your health matters. This is a big one, and has proven to help with anxiety and depression. This means a healthy balanced diet, regular exercise and a decent night’s sleep. There’s loads of evidence around a healthy lifestyle helping towards a healthy mind.
  2. Make time for you. As much as possible. And don’t feel guilty about it! Whether it’s half an hour reading a magazine, or a candle-lit bath, make sure you find the time in your busy schedule to relax and wind down on a regular basis. We aren’t robots – we need rest to help us recharge our batteries, otherwise we will burn out.
  3. We love this one, it can really help clear your head and unclutter your mind too! Whether it’s at home or at work, try and put some time aside to have a good clear out and re-organise yourself. Don’t try to do it all in one go either, if you are doing it at home take a room at a time, a room a week even – there’s no rush.
  4. Set goals. What do you want to achieve in 2018? This can be both work related or a hobby / personal achievement. Do you want to learn a new skill, develop a weakness or just engage in something you really enjoy? Make sure your goals are both realistic and achievable and try splitting the year up – maybe a goal per quarter so it’s easier to achieve.
  5. Make plans. This is the nice one. Holidays, trips, saving for a new outfit….something that makes you happy and something to look forward to this year. Make a list to help focus your mind and remind you of the exciting things coming up in 2018. It doesn’t have to be expensive – just something you enjoy doing.

We think it’s also really important to remember that most of us are probably feeling pretty similar around this time of year, with returning to work after the Christmas break. Don’t be too hard on yourself and remember to take a day at a time – don’t expect results overnight. Don’t over commit to anything, don’t do anything you don’t feel comfortable with and do things that make YOU happy. Remember, it’s the simple things in life, like a walk in the park or an afternoon watching movies with the family, which are the MOST IMPORTANT and will probably bring the most happiness!