January Blues: The longest month of the year!

All the holiday cheer has fizzled out and we’re facing the bitterly cold winter months. January always feels like the longest month ever! Most of us are just waiting for the next payday, but it doesn’t have to be like this. Here are six simple ways to beat the January blues and lift your mood!

It’s normal to feel a little bit ‘down in the dumps’ at the start of the year, we’ve celebrated Christmas and seen in the New Year, but now what? January feels like a case of the ‘Mondays’ for 31 days straight! However, it’s a great time to clear your mind of negative thoughts, make New Year’s resolutions and try something new.

1. Plan a trip

After the holiday season, there’s not much else to look forward to and people tend to start feeling low in January. But did you know, it’s actually the most popular time to book a summer holiday?

You don’t necessarily need to jet off somewhere hot and sunny (although this always helps), but experts say many people start to plan their summer trips in January so they have something to look forward to in the rest of the year.

• Planning an outing or weekend away is enough to keep your endorphins flowing.
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a condition many people suffer from at this time of year, so booking your break early and having something to look forward to can keep us distracted from the lack of sunlight.

2. Blue Monday

The third Monday of the year in January has been dubbed ‘Blue Monday’ and is claimed to be the most depressing day of the year. Now that you know this, perhaps you could plan something fun to do after work with friends to raise your spirits or just make sure you have your favourite dinner that evening.

3. Exercise

You don’t have to join a gym and pay an expensive membership fee to keep fit and healthy. As long as you aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical exercise every day, this can help you maintain a healthy weight.

It can be as simple as yoga, walking or even set yourself a challenge and try something new, like running. It’s been proven that exercise releases the happy hormone serotonin – so keep moving!

4. Declutter

January is a great time to detox our bodies, declutter our minds and our lives.

• Spring clean – get into the old cupboards, take everything out and have a good old scrub.
• Organise the shelves, food cupboards and desk.
• Bid farewell to that jumper you haven’t worn in over a year. Turning out your wardrobe and giving unwanted clothes to charity means you’re doing a world of good, which is bound to do wonders for your mental wellbeing!

5. Socialise

You may have spent the festive season visiting extended relatives, but what about your friends? Make time to catch up with the people close to you, but don’t just text them or contact them on social media, arrange to catch up over a coffee, there’s nothing better than face-to-face human interaction!

6. Set realistic goals

Don’t fret if you’ve already broken one of your New Year’s resolutions! Think about what you want to learn and achieve this year and set some genuine goals to work towards. If you really want to fulfil your goals, don't set the bar too high as it could backfire and you could end up feeling disappointed in yourself.