Do you find at this time of the year that you suddenly feel low, but can’t quite put your finger on why? Today is Blue Monday, this name refers to the third Monday in January, which is widely considered to be the most depressing day of the year. It can be due to a combination of factors, including post-holiday blues, bad weather, and financial strain after the holidays. It might be that you’re just not feeling it in different aspects of your life.
However, there are several things you can do to manage Blue Monday and improve your mood.
One way to manage Blue Monday is to focus on self-care. This can include getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and taking time to relax and unwind. It's also important to connect with others and seek support from friends and family if you're feeling down.
Another way to manage Blue Monday is to set goals and plan fun activities to look forward to. This can help to give you a sense of purpose and motivation, and can help to counteract feelings of hopelessness and sadness.
Finally, it's important to remember that Blue Monday is just one day out of the year. While it may be challenging to get through, it's important to stay positive and focus on the things that bring you joy and happiness. By taking care of yourself and staying connected to others, you can successfully manage Blue Monday and improve your overall well-being.
To summarise:
- Plan and importantly, eat healthy meals. As easy as it can be to reach for an unhealthy meal or snack, these foods can actually leave you feeling more tired and lethargic.
- Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Most of us need 7 to 9 hours, although there are some who need as few as 6 hours or as many as 10 hours of sleep each day. We are all different, but listen to your body.
- Try and be active and get outdoors where possible, even a short walk round the block can help get those endorphins going and will help lift your mood.
- Listen to your emotions and talk to someone. By speaking out loud what you're feeling will often help normalise your thoughts. I've found that by chatting to my bestie when I'm low, it turns out that we are feeling the same which takes the edge of those emotions.
Whilst we can’t help you counteract the effects of Blue Monday, we can help you if you're finding it a challenge at work, we will work hard to help you find your happy place if this is something that’s currently lacking in your life.
If you want to chat through your options, get in touch.