Beat the January Blues

With all the excitement of Christmas and new year over, January can seem a bit ‘flat’.  This, combined with the added pressure of making big New Year’s resolutions, can perhaps explain why lots of people seem to suffer from the January blues at this time of year. 

With the third Monday in January is known as “Blue Monday”, the most depressing day of the year,. With this just a few days away,  if you’re feeling the need to   bury yourself under the duvet and hibernate, you won’t be alone. Fortunately there are some simple everyday things that can be done to prevent feeling so low.

Give yourself something to look forward to
Christmas is usually a long month full of work parties, family get togethers and meals out, so at the beginning of January, you might be looking forward to a rest.   However this will soon wear off and the nostalgia will kick in. To avoid this organise some events throughout January so you still have things to look forward to. Try not to do the same things as you did in December as you may find yourself comparing them –it’s a new year, so why not try something new?

Make small changes
If you’ve over-indulged during the holidays and are feeling slightly disgusted with yourself,  try not to punish yourself too much. Making drastic changes like cutting your food intake right down and going to the gym 6 times a week will only add to the depressive feel of this month and you will find it hard to sustain – gradual changes are much more effective than extremes.

Go green
Diet and sleep has long been associated with mood. Research suggest that fatty acids such as omega 3 and adding more green veg to your diet can all help to improve your  mood. Correcting sleep patterns can also help so get  your body back into the routine of around 8 hours a night and waking at a similar time each day.

So the thought of getting through January may seem quite dark but taking these small steps – planning social events, making gradual changes andcatching up on the hours of sleep lost over the holidays can all help to make it a more manageable, maybe even enjoyable, time.