How To Beat The January Blues

Ever feel in a bit of a lull sometimes in January?

You're not on your own. Many people experience the "January Blues" now and then.

Why The January Blues?

Some of the common reasons quoted are:

• The weather is cold and rainy
• It's dark, not much sunshine and the days are short
• The Christmas / New Year holiday period is over
• Spring seems a long way off
• Feeling physically and emotionally drained
• Don't want to go back to work or other commitments
• Ate and drank too much over the holiday season
• Feeling pressured into coming up with great New Years resolutions
• Feeling pressured to "do better this year"

What Can You Do About It?

Other than hibernate, here are some things that could help:

• Get some exercise. This is proven to lift your mood. It doesn't have to be too strenuous; it could be a gentle walk or cycle.
• Go outside. Grab an opportunity to get outside (especially if the sun comes out!). Even if the weather isn't good, getting outside and being in nature will help bring you calm and nourish you.
• Check in with a friend or two. Just having a quick catch up with a friend can lift your spirits. Even a quick phone call and cracking a joke with each other can put a smile on your face and make you feel better.
• Treat yourself. This doesn't have to be with an expensive gift. It could just be you giving yourself some time alone doing what you love (soaking in a hot bath, watching a favourite movie, getting lost in a good book etc.)
• Focus on an action. With our very busy lives it's easy to get overwhelmed. If you feel like this, try simplifying things. Choose what matters most to you and just focus on that one thing for a while. The action could even just be to make a plan to take action.
• Be grateful. This is something I practise every day. Taking a few moments to think about what your grateful for can really help put things into perspective and make you feel better.
• Ask for help. Talking things over with someone else can make a big difference. It can give you a different perspective, encouragement to move forwards and renewed strength.

Keep in mind that these suggestions can help regardless of what month it is. We all have our ups and downs... the trick is to recognise the downs and do something about it.

Best wishes, Chris.